Some babies are born suffering from epilepsy – and some of those turn out to be resistant to anti-epileptic drugs, giving parents and doctors a dilemma. Now Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) has come up with a strategy that could … Read More
Targeting exhausted immune cells may prevent breast cancer from developing
Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, but mutations in these – which can be inherited – increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have now created the world’s largest catalogue of human breast … Read More
Just a one-minute pregnancy check could help to lower the risk of premature birth
Everyone working in maternity services is concerned about rising numbers of caesarean sections. More than 25% of all deliveries in the UK happen this way. Furthermore, up to 20% of in-labour caesarean sections (CS) occur late in labour, which could … Read More
Older drivers should take extra special test if they want to stay on the road
All my life, I’ve never been that good backing a car into a tight space and now I’m getting older I’m aware that whatever spatial skills I had are on the wane. Now, research from the University of East Anglia … Read More
One caring gesture will both sooth your baby and relieve parental stress too
When my children were small I was always astonished at how merely holding them seemed to be the cure for all their ills. And I’m sure that goes for all parents. It’s the power of parental touch and every parent, dads and mums, … Read More
Speeding up new prostate cancer care to save men’s lives
A new treatment for any disease usually takes about 10 years of research to prove efficacy and safety before it can be prescribed. That goes for new cancer treatments too, which is affecting men with prostate cancer. The problem is that … Read More
Key to happiness has been revealed – and you can even study it at university
Practice is the key to learning most skills, then more practice to keep your hand in. Could we learn to be happy and stay happy with practice? Bristol University, with its unique course The Science of Happiness, should know. Senior … Read More
Better follow up care for women is crucial in preventing cancer in the womb
Thickening of the womb lining is something that concerns all gynaecologists. Why? It’s a condition called endometrial hyperplasia that may go on to become cancer of the womb. Endometrial hyperplasia comes in two types – atypical and non-atypical. The atypical form carries an increased cancer … Read More
Women shouldn’t accept heavy periods as normal – see your doctor if they’re affecting your life
Not long ago I answered a reader’s letter about heavy periods, also called menorrhagia, but I feel the topic should have more exposure as it can be life-altering for those who have it. Women should never accept menorrhagia as normal. … Read More
Surprise link between big toe pain and an increased risk of heart diseases
Gout is always thought of as a joint condition because the classic symptom is almost unbearable pain in a joint, usually the big toe. But can the heart be involved in gout, too? A study, led jointly by researchers from … Read More