Kidney stones can be incredibly uncomfortable. They can block urine flow and cause a lot of pain. Traditionally, doctors have relied on a method called PCNL to tackle big kidney stones. But recent discoveries have shown that there might be a better option: a surgical method called LPL. LPL is a type of laparoscopic surgery. This means it's less invasive than traditi...
Managing a rare genetic disorder like X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in children can be challenging. This condition affects how the body handles phosphorus, leading to issues with bone growth and overall health. Over the past five years, the medical community has made significant strides in understanding XLH. This includes how it shows up, the problems it can c...
Imagine controlling a computer just by thinking about it. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, it's not. In 2024 and 2025, some amazing surgeries using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) made big news. These surgeries let paralyzed people use computers with just their thoughts. This isn't new. People have been talking about mixing humans and machines since the 196...
Shoulder replacements are becoming more common, and with that comes the need to fix or change these implants. To make this process simpler and less harmful to the body, doctors have created special parts for the shoulder joint that can be easily switched. These parts are called convertible glenoid and humeral components. They are designed to save bone and make the su...
Organ transport these days is a lot different than it used to be. For most of history, organs were kept on ice during transit before transplant. But that's not the case anymore. Imagine this: a kidney being pumped with a nutrient-rich solution, tracking its journey to the recipient. Now imagine that this tracking happens via an app, performing a job that was once do...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a common condition that makes breathing tough and reduces quality of life. Non-medicine treatments like quitting smoking and living healthily are key. Doctors often use inhalers with bronchodilators, sometimes with steroids, to help people breathe easier. Some pills, like antibiotics and certain enzyme blockers, can ...
Magic Johnson, the former NBA superstar, has been living with HIV for 33 years. Back in the day, when he was just 31, he had to walk away from basketball, a sport he loved. His peers' reactions and the initial hardships weren't easy. But today, on World AIDS Day, he shared some great news. He credits medical advances and the amazing work done in the HIV/AIDS communit...
Hepatitis C is a sneaky virus that's causing a lot of trouble in the US. In 2019 alone, it led to about 15, 000 deaths and racked up a whopping $7 billion in healthcare costs. Even though we saw a drop in infections before 2010, the numbers are climbing again. It's not just about the medical advancements we've made; where you live and how easy it is to get healthcare...
Ever imagine how the world's first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby came to be? It was 1978, and the breakthrough occurred with Louise Brown. Her parents couldn't conceive naturally, so doctors took a clever approach called "natural cycle IVF. " This meant working with the mother's natural hormone cycles. Back then, IVF was a new game with lots of trial and error. ...
Meet the new Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry! David Baker, a US biochemist, and Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have just been honored for their incredible work on proteins. They've each received half of the Swedish Krona (SEK 11mn, $1.06mn) prize for pushing the boundaries of protein science. Baker, from the University of Washington, has done amazi...