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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Medicine. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Colon cancer survivor and artist Helen Law in Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Wellness

Explainer | At 38, she thought she was too young to have colon cancer

Helen Law mistook her colorectal cancer symptoms for signs of sleep deprivation. With cases in people under 50 rising, how to lower risk.

Wellness

How an AI selfie scanner could help doctors treat cancer patients

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Explainer | How can Hong Kong patients benefit from fee transparency in private hospitals?

Wellness

Fungal disease in The Last of Us is deadly. Could it really happen?

The widespread use of antifungals, especially in farming, is reducing their effectiveness and making untreatable, fatal diseases more likely.

Bella Ramsey as Ellie (left) and Pedro Pascal as Joel in a still from The Last of Us. Photo: HBO
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong scientists make breakthrough on flu vaccine offering more protection

Professor Leo Poon says long-lasting protective effects of potential new vaccine may reduce need to receive yearly jabs.

Wellness

He was 45, fit, but his arm tingled. Seeing a doctor probably saved his life

Scott Daley discovered he had a large blockage in his left anterior descending artery, which left untreated could have caused a fatal heart attack.

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Hong Kong society

Opinion | Healthcare reforms overdue as ageing Hong Kong faces rising costs

While revising the public hospital fee structure was a much-needed move, more can be done to improve efficiency and resource allocation.

The crowded accident and emergency department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan, Hong Kong, on March 17. Photo: Jelly Tse
Wellness

New bone marrow test doubles AML blood cancer survival chances

The 10-minute procedure identified signs of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) returning in patients before it showed in blood tests.

Wellness

Trial epilepsy drug’s success on son like winning the lottery, mum says

Young boys with Dravet syndrome, which causes multiple debilitating seizures, experienced dramatic improvements after taking a trial drug.

Biomedicine: Companies

Can Hengrui become a global pharmaceutical giant like Merck after its Hong Kong IPO?

China’s Hengrui Pharmaceuticals seeks a path to growth as its pipeline of novel drugs expands.

Exchange Square in Hong Kong. Photo: Robert Ng
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Mixed medicine offers relief for Hong Kong patients with breathing problems

Pilot scheme targeting respiratory diseases with integrated Western and Chinese medicine treatments is now available at four hospitals.

The pilot scheme started at Haven of Hope Hospital in Tseung Kwan O last year. Photo: Handout
Wellness

How some stroke victims find their voices again through song

She could not recognise her mother, but Summer Clarke could sing her favourite songs while recovering from a stroke. She is not the only one.

Science

Snakes have bitten him hundreds of times. Scientists are studying his blood

Tim Friede’s exposure to venom from black mambas, cobras and other snakes could hold the key to better treatment for bite victims.

Wellness

Think young people don’t have strokes? Emilia Clarke had 2 in her 20s

The Game of Thrones actress had her first stroke aged 24. We talk to experts on the causes of ‘young strokes’ and how to help avoid them.

Emilia Clarke suffered her first stroke at the age of 24, and another two years later. Photo: AP
Wellness

DEHP, chemical in everyday plastic items, linked to 356,000 deaths a year

Phthalate chemical in plastic, food containers, pipes and sprays contributed to 13% of global deaths from heart disease in 2018, study finds.

DEHP, a phthalate chemical, can be ingested after it is broken down into microscopic particles as part of the everyday use of the items it is contained in. Photo: Shutterstock
Beauty

Seoul’s plastic surgery clinics see surge in foreign medical tourists

Influenced by K-pop and social media, Chinese and Indonesians join Japanese, Americans, Russians seeking facelifts, skin tightening in Korea.

Biomedicine: Companies

Shanghai start-up United InnoMed plans studies to develop heart-failure treatment device

Company raised US$20 million of fresh capital last month from investors including existing backer Lilly Asia Ventures.

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Reproductive health

UK university to research possible menstrual cycle link to knee injuries

The Fifa-funded study comes after an alarming rise in career-threatening knee injuries in women’s football.

The research comes after players including Arsenal’s Beth Mead (left), Manchester City’s Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr have all suffered serious injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Exam time: Hong Kong medical school bids under microscope this week

Sources say government task group will meet contenders to hear more about their proposals, as universities continue to flex muscles in public.

Quantum computing

Chinese quantum computing firm tackles breast cancer screenings, drug design

Hefei-based Origin Quantum has demonstrated its computer’s ability to process medical imaging data ‘exponentially faster’ than classical machines.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong team says discovery offers new hope for treating Huntington’s disease

Discovery of new underlying mechanism opens up possibilities for developing medication, researchers at Chinese University of Hong Kong say.

A research team at the Chinese University of Hong Kong hope their research could open up new possibilities for developing medication to treat Huntington’s Disease. Photo: Handout
Biomedicine: Companies

Akeso shares slump despite second China approval for lung cancer drug

Chinese regulator grants second approval for lung cancer drug ivonescimab, which has outperformed Merck’s Keytruda in phase three trial.

Akeso’s new immunotherapy drug called ivonescimab allowed half of its patients to go 11.1 months without their condition worsening. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | After a year’s delay, Hong Kong is ready to roll out waste charging

Readers discuss the favourable conditions for implementing waste charging, the addictive nature of gaming, and making medical care more comfortable.

Wellness

After 3 bouts of cancer, this woman is thriving. How does she do it?

Singapore-based Aparna Suri overcame three bouts of cancer. She hails the power of her support network, including her husband, who is her ‘rock’.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority brings in experts to help curb medical blunders

Head of city’s public hospitals vows to strengthen public communication over mistakes as part of measures introduced after performance review.

The Hospital Authority has trained a group of doctors to take on spokesperson roles to improve transparency and help build public trust. Photo: Felix Wong
Wellness

How wellness retreat helps influencer cope with ‘frustrating’ disease

Sjogren’s syndrome robs sufferers who include Venus Williams of saliva and tears. Pinky Tobiano finds relief from it at a Philippine retreat.

Pinky Tobiano finds time for herself in a healing herbal bath at The Farm. Photo: Instagram/pinkytobiano
United States

US at tipping point for return of endemic measles

Low vaccination rates mean the disease, which was declared eradicated in the US, could go back to spreading at high levels, researchers warn.

Wellness

Antibiotic resistance could be solved by superbugs themselves, study shows

Bacteria resistant to antibiotics are linked to millions of deaths per year, but researchers may have found a way to defeat them.

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