Chronic pain is a scourge of our times and affects millions of people worldwide. But treating it is not straightforward. There are questions like why are some people more prone to it and what factors lead to chronic pain. We also … Read More
Discovery of new kidney and liver disease could save people from transplants
There are numerous reasons for kidney and liver failure, which if left untreated are life-threatening. And often patients don’t get a precise diagnosis, which can result in their best course of treatment being unclear. But experts at Newcastle University have … Read More
Next generation therapy for arthritis of the knee – a problem that usually gets worse
At last there is hope for a treatment for arthritis of the knee which, in the form of osteoarthritis, is often an intractable problem. It inevitably gets worse with age and obesity because of wear and tear on this important weight-bearing … Read More
Ground-breaking allergy treatment could stop more tragic deaths like Natasha’s
The death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who collapsed on a flight after an allergic reaction to sesame seeds, was shocking, heart-breaking and a giant wake-up call to the food industry. Now, researchers at Southampton University are looking into a way … Read More
Testing cancer’s DNA could reveal why patients fall ill and help future treatment
Funding for genetic research can be money well spent – as experiments into cancer at Cambridge University prove. Researchers have discovered genetic mutations that give a personal history of the damage and repair processes each patient has been through. In the biggest … Read More
Could there be a Covid connection behind hepatitis outbreak in kids?
The global outbreak of hepatitis in children is a real worry, especially among parents and grandparents, raising the spectre of another Covid. There have been 650 suspected cases globally and more than 250 of those were in the UK. So … Read More
Pioneering new drug could eliminate long-term side effects of cancer treatment
Radiotherapy for cancer is often debilitating but also necessary, so anything that can help improve side effects is a huge step forward. Hats off then to scientists at Newcastle University who have come up with a simple, one-off treatment that can prevent long-term side … Read More
A new jab for patients with high blood pressure could replace daily tablets
People with high blood pressure typically take tablets daily to control the condition – and ACE inhibitors are the most common. But exciting research is being made into a long-acting injection that could revolutionise how hypertension is treated. Scientists at Queen Mary … Read More
Fifteen minutes running or walking during the school day makes kids sharper
Here’s a message that could be useful for parents – children who run or walk for 15 minutes a day during the school day are mentally and physically sharper than those who don’t. A study has shown primary pupils who … Read More
We need to ban indoor tanning now to cut our risk of aggressive skin cancer
Australia, and Bondi beach in particular, is one of the skin cancer hotspots of the world. I once made a documentary there, “Dying for a Tan”, talking to people with pale skins baring all in the vicious Australian sun. Even knowing that … Read More