Fat 'counters vitamin C benefits'
The presence of fat may override the beneficial anti-cancer effects of vitamin C in the stomach, research suggests.

Pain link to post-trauma stress
People with post-traumatic stress disorder may be less sensitive to pain, research suggests.

Pakistan battles HIV/Aids taboo
Only a fraction of the tens of thousands of Pakistanis with HIV are coming forward for help, officials say.

New flu strains 'resisting drugs'
New strains of flu are showing resistance to drugs that could help slow a pandemic, research suggests.

Fat hormone 'boosts colon cancer'
A chemical produced by fat cells makes colon cancers grow faster, a US study suggests.

Doubt over chlamydia checks
The national screening programme for chlamydia is not backed by evidence it is beneficial, say researchers.

Hybrid embryo ban 'unnecessary'
Research to create human-animal hybrid embryos should be regulated instead of banned in the UK, say MPs.

Med diet 'could prevent asthma'
Eating a Mediterranean diet could protect children from respiratory allergies and asthma, a study suggests.

New drug for HIV 'shows promise'
A new HIV drug has shown promising results when combined with an existing treatment, researchers say.

Secrets of skin cancer fightback
The deadliest form of skin cancer cheats chemotherapy by disguising itself as a normal cell, say scientists.

High vitamin D levels cut MS risk
Higher levels of vitamin D in the blood may lower the risk of multiple sclerosis, research suggests.

New bird flu cases in Vietnam
Vietnam confirms the death of some 6,000 domestic poultry from bird flu, after being free of human cases for a year.

China rules on foreign adoptions
China's new rules on foreign adoptions bars people who are unmarried, over 50 or obese, US agencies say.

Libya firm on HIV sentences
Libya rejects criticism over death sentences passed on a group of foreign medics for infecting children with HIV.

Compulsory HIV tests for couples
Officials in India's Andhra Pradesh state say an HIV test will soon be compulsory before marriage.

Tourists 'fuel Kenya's sex boom'
Up to 30% of girls in some tourist resorts in Kenya are involved in the sex industry, a UN report says.

MRSA victim was nurse at hospital
A nurse who died after giving birth at North Staffordshire Hospital was a victim of a deadly strain of MRSA, it is revealed.

Alcohol 'may prevent arthritis'
Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol each day could protect against arthritis, a study of mice has found.

Testicle checks 'more common'
The number of young men who check their testicles for signs of cancer has tripled in a decade, research suggests.

Scan detects child heart killer
A medical scan can spot which young people risk sudden death because of a weak heart.

Deadly toll of botched abortions
Unsafe abortions in the developing world kill 68,000 women a year, research suggests.

Dispute over schizophrenia drugs
Experts continue to disagree over the best drugs to treat schizophrenia - newer or older antipsychotics.

Vioxx class action claim refused
A US judge refuses a request to combine thousands of lawsuits involving the painkiller Vioxx into a class action.

Call to end female circumcision
Leading Muslim scholars urge an end to female circumcision and punishment for those who carry it out.

Wheat's lost gene helps nutrition
Restoring a turned off gene in wheat could boost levels of protein and key nutrients, scientists discover.

Obesity 'damages children's feet'
Children who are obese are damaging their feet and may have problems walking, a study suggests.

How damaged eggs are detected
Scientists identify a protein that helps detect DNA damage in eggs which could help treat female infertility.

Cancer chemical in street cocaine
Cocaine's street price is falling because it is being cut with a carcinogenic painkiller, say police.

Cardiac master cells discovered
Scientists discover what could be cardiac master cells capable of becoming different tissues in the heart.

Smoking age rise 'within months'
The law will be changed within months to raise the age for buying cigarettes, Scotland's health minister says.

Humans show DNA differences
Scientists show that genetic make-up of humans can vary hugely - far more than was previously thought.

Vatican to address condom rules
The Catholic Church is to discuss the use of condoms to fight the spread of HIV, perhaps signalling a shift in policy.

Africa baby deaths 'preventable'
More than one million African babies do not survive their first month of life, the World Health Organisation says.

Fake drugs 'growing menace'
The European Union is warned to take steps to combat the growing problem of counterfeit drugs.

Cancer: The facts
The disease tends to affect older people - but can strike at any time.

Pregnancy timeline
A week by week guide to pregnancy taking in how the baby develops, changes to the mother and key scan dates.