Australian doctors begin surgery to separate Bangladeshi twins conjoined at top of the headNovember 15th, 2009 Australian doctors operate on conjoined twinsMELBOURNE, Australia — A team of Australian surgeons were working Monday on a delicate and complicated surgery to separate twin sisters who are joined at the top of the head. The 2-year-old Bangladeshi orphans, Trishna and Krishna, share parts of their skull, brain tissue and blood flow.
New technique may help cancer victims regrow their breastsNovember 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Aussie scientists have developed a surgical technique that may allow women to regrow their breasts after undergoing mastectomies. The experimental stem cell breast-growing technique, called Neopec, will allow breast cancer victims to re-grow breasts within six months - eliminating the need for implants or cosmetic surgery.
Why do some people have curly hairNovember 9th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Wondering why do some people have curly hair? Well, Australian scientists claim to have identified a gene responsible for creating such tresses. Professor Nick Martin and Dr Sarah Medland from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) have discovered trichohyalin gene that plays a vital role in development of the hair follicle.
Army: Officer credited with heroism at Fort Hood in good condition after second surgeryNovember 7th, 2009 Army: Officer shot at Fort Hood in good conditionTEMPLE, Texas — Authorities say one of the officers who has been hailed as a hero in the Fort Hood massacre has had a second surgery and is grateful for all the good wishes. Sgt. Kimberly Munley was injured during the shooting rampage at the Texas post that she has been credited with helping end by shooting the alleged gunman.
2 patients killed in stabbings at Australian psychiatric hospital; 1 patient held by policeNovember 4th, 2009 2 patients killed at Aussie psychiatric hospitalMELBOURNE, Australia — A psychiatric patient was charged Thursday with two counts of murder in the overnight stabbing deaths of two men who were also patients at an Australian hospital. Police told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Peko Lakovski, 49, armed himself with a large kitchen knife and stabbed his roommate and another man late Wednesday.
Siamese twins die in PeruNovember 1st, 2009 LIMA - Siamese twins Ruth and Milagros, who shared such vital organs as the heart, liver and intestines, died in a hospital in the Peruvian capital, an official said. Luis Shimabukuro, director of the National Children's Institute, said Saturday that the Siamese twins died Friday night due to a complex congenital cardiopathy (a badly formed heart that both shared and which was incapable of pumping blood), according to Radio Programas del Peru (RPP).
RI hospital has its 5th wrong-site surgery since 2007, this time on patient's fingerOctober 25th, 2009 RI hospital has 5th wrong-site surgery since '07PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Health officials are investigating how a surgeon at Rhode Island Hospital mistakenly operated on the wrong part of a patient's hand, the hospital's fifth wrong-site surgery since 2007.
Cardiovascular disease 'ups hip fracture risk'October 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with a significantly increased risk of subsequent hip fracture, and there may be a genetic predisposition to both conditions, according to a new study. CVD and osteoporosis, which are common in elderly individuals, have been regarded as independent age-related disorders.
Impaired foetal growth ups asthma riskOctober 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Children born with low birth weight are at a higher risk of developing asthma later in life, says a new study. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, is based on data on the incidence of asthma in 10,918 twins from the Swedish Twin Registry.
Drug-light combo effective against head, neck cancersOctober 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A combination of medications and a particular light therapy has been found to be effective in treating certain types of head and neck cancers. During a study, researchers focused on the use photodynamic therapy (PDT) in tropical climates.
231 new genes linked with head and neck cancer identifiedOctober 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital have identified 231 new genes associated with head and neck cancer. Earlier, only 33 genes were known to be associated with head and neck cancer.
600 dentists to feature in 24-hour oral care marathonOctober 2nd, 2009 MUMBAI - Six hundred dentists from across the country will feature in a 24-hour oral care marathon here next week to offer free dental checks to Mumbaikars and create one more reason for this financial and entertainment capital of India to be on the world map. Mumbai Smiles will run from 11 a.m.
Aussie scientists find HIV reservoir in the brainSeptember 23rd, 2009 MELBOURNE - Aussie scientists have discovered that the brain also acts as a key "reservoir" for HIV, a finding that may be a serious threat to the search for a way to eradicate the virus from the body. While scientists are using antiretroviral drugs to get rid of HIV altogether, they are finding it difficult to perfect techniques to kill off infected cells in the known reservoirs for HIV in the body.
Egyptian twins, once joined at the head, return to Dallas for checkups 6 years after surgerySeptember 16th, 2009 Once-conjoined twins return to Dallas for checkupsDALLAS — Egyptian twins once joined at the head returned to Texas this week for checkups, and were treated to a pizza party Wednesday with the doctor who brought them to the United States to be separated. Now 8, Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim strode down hallways and gobbled up pizza and ice cream, wearing matching gray T-shirts over yellow long-sleeved shirts.
Sleeping with partner could be bad for health and relationshipSeptember 9th, 2009 LONDON - The secret to a long, healthy and happy marriage might lie in having separate beds, claims a sleep expert. A research has found that sharing a bed often led to poor quality sleep as people were regularly disturbed by their loved ones during the night.
