Parkinson's disease

How tainted drugs “froze” young people—but kickstarted Parkinson’s research

26 May 2016

In 1982, a tainted drug caused a handful of young Californians to become mysteriously frozen, unable to move. Their doctor’s ensuing investigation helped catalyze the start of modern Parkinson’s...

Crohn's disease

Christchurch microbiologist may have cracked Crohn's disease

26 May 2016

Research by Christchurch microbiologist John Aitken has recorded a major advance in the treatment of Crohn's disease, which affects 20,000 New Zealanders. MARTIN VAN BEYNEN reports.   John Milford...

Lung cancer

Georgia man to complete half Ironman as he battles incurable lung cancer

26 May 2016

Kirk Smith doesn’t care much for the word “awareness”— instead, he prefers the word “hope.”   The 54-year-old is training for a half Ironman triathlon in October while battling an...

COPD

Persistent Childhood Asthma Linked to Early COPD

17 May 2016 • 1 comment

Persistent childhood asthma may be linked to earlier development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to results from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) study...

Claustrophobia

Matt Lucas: 'I had no hair, asthma and was gay. School was tough'

16 May 2016 • 2 comments

We asked the actor Matt Lucas, 42, what his younger self would think if he could see him now...    When I was a boy, there were three things I thought I might do. The dream was to be a stage actor...

Prostate cancer

Testosterone therapy does not raise risk of aggressive prostate cancer

10 May 2016

Men with low levels of the male sex hormone testosterone need not fear that testosterone replacement therapy will increase their risk of prostate cancer.   This is the finding of an analysis of more...

Breast cancer

Breast cancer: Scientists hail 'milestone' genetic find

9 May 2016

Scientists say they now have a near-perfect picture of the genetic events that cause breast cancer. The study, published in Nature, has been described as a "milestone" moment that could help unlock...

Prostate cancer

New cancer drugs could treat lethal resistant prostate cancers

2 May 2016

Men with aggressive prostate cancer that has stopped responding to conventional treatment could potentially benefit from a new class of cancer drug designed to overcome drug resistance, a new study...

Crohn's disease

Parasitic Worms May Restore Balance To Gut Microbiome In People With Crohn's Disease

25 Apr 2016

A worm in the gut may help people living with certain types of Crohn’s disease get out of their rut, suggests a new study published Wednesday in Science.   The authors recruited laboratory mice to...

Arthritis

Psoriasis And Aneurysm: Skin Condition Linked To Triggering Aneurysm

25 Apr 2016

Not all skin conditions are skin deep. Studies show a link between psoriasis and aneurysm. As psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition, worsens, so is one's risk of suffering from an enlargement of...

Asthma

End of inhalers? Cure for asthma and food allergies on horizon

25 Apr 2016 • 1 comment

A universal cure for asthma and food allergies is on the horizon after scientists found a way to convince the immune system to ignore triggers like pollen or peanuts.   The new approach involves...

Breast cancer

Women who undergo fertility treatment 'may be at greater risk of breast cancer

18 Apr 2016

The study of nearly 45,000 women aged 40-69 found infertile females are more likely to have dense breasts, a significant risk factor for developing cancer.   Dense breasts, which can be hereditary,...