Illnesses and conditions

In a breakthrough study, researchers have found that the world's most common type of arthritis – osteoarthritis (OA) – actually has a single core driver with clean-cut molecular pathways. It paves the way for much better treatment.

An epidemic that's been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the milestone approval of the first HIV drug that offers 100% protection with its twice-yearly injections. It's a landmark achievement set to save millions of lives.

A bacterium from the gut of Japanese tree frogs has "exhibited remarkably potent" tumor-killing abilities when administered intravenously, outperforming current standard therapies and paving the way for an entirely new approach to treating cancer.

A recent study builds on previous findings, discovering that people who had experienced a serious heart attack also had higher levels of MNPs than healthy volunteers and patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.

Ten months on from the huge news that a chlamydia vaccine had been approved for Australia's koalas, a young female has become the first to receive the groundbreaking medicine in a new dose-and-implant format that makes large-scale treatment possible.

Around one in three people worldwide have been infected with a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which can cause toxoplasmosis. After the initial infection, toxo settles into our muscles and brain, where it can remain for life.

A new treatment has shown promise in reducing migraine pain with targeted ear acupuncture, opening the door to therapy that could be used as a complementary procedure alongside existing medication prescribed to those with the debilitating condition.

Scientists have found what may be a critical trigger in allergic asthma, estimated to affect 60% of the 28 million Americans with the chronic respiratory condition. It opens the door to new ways to protect airways from inflammation and its symptoms.

A lengthy trial robbing adults of 90 minutes of sleep a night has uncovered the effect even this small amount of lost shut-eye has on the waistline after little more than a month. It also increased the risk factors for chronic disease.

Thousands of RNA virus species have been identified, and there may be millions, but only 239 infect humans. Scientists have now published a catalogue that helps other researchers – as well as all of us – pinpoint the riskiest ones.

A comprehensive global review has found that mRNA vaccines are not just highly effective at fighting infectious diseases but are also very safe. And that they have the potential to revolutionize how we treat influenza, RSV and many cancers.

For decades, lung disease has been the most visible and life-threatening part of cystic fibrosis – but this isn't the whole story. Cystic fibrosis is also a gastrointestinal disease, affecting the gut and organs including the pancreas and liver.

A novel three-in-one medication has been put to the test in a trial of 212 heart failure patients, in an effort to find an easier and more effective way to treat the condition. The findings were just what the scientists had hoped to see.

A supplement best known for helping some people get a better night's sleep may also have a surprising painkilling effect in those with a range of chronic conditions. This could help reduce the use of pain medications that come with more risks.

An opioid drug with a low risk of addiction and respiratory depression has emerged as a promising candidate for treating chronic pain and pruritus, a condition that compels people to scratch their skin. And it's already on the market.

A once-a-day oral GLP-1 pill known as CX11 has met its dosage and efficacy goals in a trial on US patients and will now advance to its first North American Phase 3 trial. It's already cleared this final hurdle in China where it awaits approval.

Weight-loss jabs are the latest craze for shedding a few pounds. But as effective as GLP-1 drugs are, not everyone who uses them will lose a significant amount of weight. Research suggests that between 10% and 30% of patients fit into this group.

Colorectal cancer has long been linked to a microbial imbalance in the gut. A new study suggests this dynamic is more complicated than initially thought, with not just bacteria behind it but the viruses living inside them.