A clinical trial of a promising new experimental therapy for metastatic melanoma has shown positive results, including tumour shrinkage in the majority of patients. The positive results support previously reported positive data for the drug known as PLX4032 (RG7204) in a much larger patient population where all responses were confirmed by an independent review committee.

The world watched in awe as Captain Kirk commanded, "Beam me up, Scotty," way back then. We've come a long way since the 1960s and laser beams, or high-intensity beams of light generated from a laser, are no longer sci-fi TV fantasies. They are a common part of 21st century life, found in supermarkets, on building sites and in medical laboratories. Lasers serve many useful ...

A rare genetic disorder has highlighted the importance to human health of selenium, a little known trace element. The discovery, reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, may also shed light on the role of free radicals – highly reactive molecules which can cause cellular damage – in the body.

In the 21st century, it's hard not to know something about cosmetic surgery. We watch cosmetic surgery reality TV and see the results of successful surgeries – a perfectly contoured nose here, a set of perky breasts or a pair of shapely, cellulite free thighs there. It's little wonder so many people consider having cosmetic surgery themselves.Yet there's a dark side to cosmetic ...

Australian babies and pre-schoolers are being unnecessarily exposed to the risk of skin cancer because comprehensive sun protection standards are not consistently being adopted by early childhood services.

Two new vitamin D studies from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggest intriguing ties between a deficiency of D and breast and colon cancer, particularly among African Americans.

Australian researchers have developed the country's first diabetes specific stem cell line, a major advance for patients suffering from the chronic disease. Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings announced the breakthrough to coincide with the AusBiotech Conference held in Melbourne.

Sodium gets a bad rap for contributing to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Now biologists at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences have discovered that sodium also plays a key role in initiating a regenerative response after severe injury. The Tufts scientists have found a way to regenerate injured spinal cord and muscle by using small molecule drugs to trigger an influx of ...

Even though movie stars make plastic surgery look as simple and easy as buying a pair of shoes, for us mere mortals, it is important to know that any plastic surgery is pricey. There can be lots of hidden costs if you're not careful, so research is the key to making sure you don't burn a hole in your pocket when you're shopping for your fabulous new tummy.

New research has found almost half of adult Australians (46%) think it 'likely' they will develop skin cancer, yet many still fail to regularly check their skin for potential cancers.