Post Archive by Month

Diabetes, both types 1 and 2, comes with very serious ­complications, which could lead to ­amputations. It can also ­affect the eyes, heart and kidneys, which fail prematurely in four out of 10 people with diabetes. It means there are 4.8 … Read More

Although it’s been a long time coming, we now have surgery for enlarged prostates with faster treatment and quicker recovery time. It’s done with a robotic-controlled waterjet, takes all of 40 minutes, can be done as a day case and … Read More

Chronic pain has been treated with antidepressants for some time, the rationale being that while they don’t actually treat the pain, you mind it less. This can be useful for patients with long-standing unremitting pain, but are antidepressants really that … Read More

The launch of a sugary drink tax to put youngsters off buying sweetened drinks in a bid to reduce childhood obesity was something I supported. Well, did it work? Yes, according to Cambridge researchers. They estimate around 5,000 cases of … Read More

How’s this for some clever research – using loyalty cards in pharmacies to track ­purchases of over-the-counter medicines to elicit clues about possible cases of ovarian cancer. Scientists from University College London, Imperial College London and Birmingham University were able to tie purchases of pain and … Read More

We may resent the intrusion of smartphones in our daily lives, but researchers at King’s College London are finding they can be a unique aid to help people with depression. Smartphones can track sufferers’ symptoms and the impact they have on their lives, and … Read More

The lymphatic system isn’t an easy concept to grasp, not even for a medical student. Suffice to say it’s a network of vessels that branch throughout the body, and play an important role in the draining of excess fluid from … Read More

Living in a city or living in the country have their own different appeals and advantages, such as access to shops and public transport, versus access to nature. It seems country folk in England have a surprising advantage over their townie … Read More

Some people are lucky. They have an anti-ageing gene that can wind the heart’s age back about 10 years. Yes, startling. This magical gene was ­discovered in centenarians, people who live 100 years or longer, by Bristol University researchers. Carriers … Read More

Chickenpox is often seen as a rite of passage – but should children really have to go through it? Well, almost three-quarters of parents would support a chickenpox vaccine being added to the childhood vaccination schedule. Researchers Professor Helen Bedford of UCL Great … Read More