Research

Australia researchers have reported promising results from the trial of a vaccine that appears to protect against a range of strains of meningococcal B.

More than 500 adolescents from Australia, Poland and Spain participated in the trial of the vaccine, which was seen to generate a strong antibody response. Further tests indicated that the vaccine would be able to fight off meningococcal B infection between 80 and 100 per cent of the time, depending on the dosage level.

A University of Adelaide study has found that there is a higher risk of defects among births conceived using assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) compared with those resulting from unassisted conception.

The researchers found that ICSI resulted in the highest risk of birth defects, at 9.9 per cent of all births, followed by IVF at 7.2 per cent, compared with only a 5.8 per cent risk for babies conceived naturally.

New research has instilled hope in pregnant women by finding an indicator that can detect pre-eclampsia before symptoms occur.

Researchers from the University of Sydney found the thymus – an organ of the immune system, which sits behind the breastbone – was significantly smaller in foetuses where mothers went on to develop pre-eclampsia.

The National Hepatitis C Testing Policy has been updated for the first time since 2007.

The updated policy provides health professionals with quick access to relevant information and advice on hepatitis C virus (HCV) tests.

Breast cancer is not one disease, but 10 distinct and separate conditions, according to the largest study of its kind to investigate the genetics of breast tumours.

The research, published in the journal Nature last month, involved the examination of breast cancer samples from almost 2000 women in the United Kingdom and Canada, and identified a series of “novel sub-groups” of the affliction.

A study has found that a substance in the French lilac plant can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease in people living with Type 2 diabetes.

Monash University research involving more than 800,000 Taiwanese over a 12-year period found that having diabetes doubles the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and using the anti-diabetic drug sulfonylureas heightens the risk by a further 57 per cent.

Morphine users may be freed from side effects caused by the pain relieving drug following a discovery by Australian and American researchers.

In an advance that could prevent increased sensitivity to pain, drug tolerance and other side effects, the researchers have found a way to block the brain immune receptor which, once activated by opioid drugs such as morphine, creates an inflammatory response in the brain that causes side effects.

Older women have been urged to maintain a healthy body weight, with research showing an increase in BMI can lead to foot health problems later in life.

Venom from the Komodo dragon could lower your blood pressure, according to Australian researcher A/Prof Bryan Fry.

Prof Fry’s team investigated the potential interplay between the Komodo dragon’s biting mechanisms, toxic bacteria in its mouth, and its venom.

New research by US researchers shows that people who self-diagnose lactose intolerance may be at risk of poor bone health and higher risks of diabetes and hypertension