'Her skin tears when you hug her and her fingers are fused together': Girl, 6, suffers rare condition which means her skin blisters at the slightest touch

Rafi Kopelan

Six-year-old Rafaella Kopelan, from New York, was born with a rare and incurable genetic condition which means her skin is extremely fragile. Every day she has to be bathed, smothered in special creams and have her wounds cleaned and dressed. The condition has also caused her fingers to fuse together (inset) She had a pioneering stem cell treatment which improved her condition slightly but it remains severe.

Alert over 'killer cement' used in hip replacements that has 'killed 41 patients in seven years'

Procedure: The risk of death from a hip transplant is 1 in 3,000 - but the frequency seems to be increasing

A study carried out by Professor Liam Donaldson, the former chief medical officer, found the deaths were directly linked to the use of chemical 'cement' in the procedure.

'I have travelled 40,000 miles just to hug my son': Parent's agony as their severely autistic son is housed in treatment unit 250 MILES away for more than two years

Josh Wills, 13, was diagnosed with severe autism when he was two-and-a-half. For years his parents cared for him at their homes, but when his self-harming became more extreme he was referred to a specialist treatment centre in Birmingham, 250 miles from his Cornwall home

Josh Wills is being cared for at a specialist centre in Birmingham, 250 miles from his parents' homes in Cornwall. Sarah Medley and Phill Wills (pictured with Josh) told This Morning they are desperate to see their son transferred for treatment closer to home. Mr Wills said: 'We haven't tucked him in bed for 19 months now, or kissed him goodnight or read him a story.' Josh's mother added: 'We always assumed he would come back, we didn't really agree with him going away in the first place but we sort of had little choice, no one was coping even the staff working with Josh. But I never dreamed he would still be away now.'

Dating using a smartphone app? Then you're more likely to get an STD than if you meet a partner in a bar or even online

People who meet sexual partners through phone apps are more likely to have an STI, study finds

Research published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections revealed people who find sexual partners though apps are more likely to have gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

Diet battle of the sexes: Men are less likely to join weight loss programmes - but are more successful than women when they do

Once men are motivated to lose weight - often for health rather than appearance reasons - they are more successful at dieting than women

Middle-aged men are motivated to lose weight once they perceive they have a health problem they want to tackle, say researchers from Bournemouth and Scotland.

'Swimming in a dirty pool gave me kidney failure': Man is saved by a new organ from his father after picking up E. coli on holiday

Aidan Sheikh-Husseyin

Aidan Sheikh-Husseyin (left and inset), 23, from Ringwood, in Dorset, was on holiday in Turkey when he developed E. coli which caused severe damage to his kidneys. He suffered kidney failure and was told his only hope of avoiding dialysis was a transplant. His father, Ilkay Husseyin (left with his son and right), 46, was found to be a match and the surgery took place three weeks ago.

The boy who can't bear daylight: Harry, 6, must wear sunglasses all the time due to incurable condition that affects his sight

Brave: Harry Beardsell must wear shades all year round to protect him from the effects of an incurable disease

Harry Beardsell, from Canvey Island, Essex, suffers from a rare condition called cystinosis, which causes crystals to form in his eyes, making them super sensitive to light.

Eating one chicken breast or salmon fillet a day can reduce the risk of a stroke by 20%

Just one 20g serving of protein a day can slash the risk of a stroke by 20 per cent - and fish is particularly beneficial, say scientists

For every extra 20g of protein eaten per day, stroke risk reduced by around 26 per cent, say researchers from Nanjing University, China.

'We need to legalise ecstasy': Grieving mother speaks out after her 15-year-old daughter died because she took MDMA that was 91% pure

Anne-Marie Cockburn and her daughter Martha Fernback

Martha Fernback, pictured right, from the Summertown area of Oxford, suffered a cardiac arrest in July last year after taking an 'exceptionally pure' dose of MDMA. At an inquest into her death, it emerged the GCSE student had taken a drug which was 91 per cent, compared with the average street purity of 58 per cent. Now her mother Anne-Marie Cockburn, 43, pictured left with her daughter, is calling for Ecstasy to be legalised so users can make an informed decision about what they are taking. She also wants to meet with top politicians, including Home Secretary Theresa May, to discuss plans for a 'strict and responsible regulation', so that doctors and pharmacists, rather than drug dealers, are put in control of drugs.

No more ill-fitting bras! Algorithm identifies more than 6,000 breast shapes - and will find lingerie to suit each pair

True&Co collected information about the shape of 500,000 women's breasts in order to create a range of 'Uniform' bras (pictured) that are designed to fit different shaped bodies

A company in San Francisco used seven million data points to analyse the shape of 500,000 women's breasts and has created a range of bras (pictured) using the information.

Judge awards £12million to parents of boy left severely disabled at birth after doctors 'failed to treat his abnormal heartbeat, starving his brain of oxygen'

Toby Hart was left severely disabled after medics failed to 'act upon' his abnormal heartbeat leaving him brain damaged

Toby Hart, from Bedale in North Yorkshire, suffered brain damage at birth. He has since been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, a severe learning disability, as well as being registered blind.

How proposing could save your life: Married men go for more medical check-ups than those who live with a partner (and it's all down to a nagging wife)

Married men go for more medical check-ups than single and cohabiting men, figures show

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed single men are also more diligent than cohabiting men when it comes to seeing a doctor.

Is white bread actually GOOD for us? Study finds it boosts 'good' bacteria in the gut, helping prevent disease

Eating white bread could increase the levels of 'good' bacteria in people's guts, research suggests

Researchers at the University of Oviedo, in Spain, say eating white bread could help people fight off disease and improve their overall health.

Should obesity be classed as a DISABILITY? Debate rages as 25st man takes employer to court after he was sacked for being too fat

Should obesity be classed as a disability?

Karsten Kaltoft (right and top left) was sacked by his local authority in Denmark for being unable to perform his duties as a childminder because he was too fat. His case will be heard in the European Court of Justice today. If successful in redefining obesity as a disability, Mr Kaltoft's lawyers could force widespread changes in the way bosses deal with staff. Currently in the UK the law is clear, the Equality Act 2010 refrained from classing obesity as a disability. Debating the issue on today's Good Morning Britain, writer and broadcaster Carole Malone and journalist Ursula Hirschkorn, explored both sides of the issue (bottom left). Ms Hirschkorn said: 'I am not sure it (obesity) should be treated as a disabilty. But what he is trying to say is if you are going to have anti-discrimination laws, they need to be universal.' Ms Malone added: 'The majority of people who are overweight have no discipline and no self-control.'

How suicides soared during the recession: 10,000 lives were taken in Europe and North America during recent financial crisis

The financial crisis was responsible for at least 10,000 suicides, new research suggests

Before the recession suicide rates had been falling in Europe, say researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Wearing sunscreen may NOT prevent skin cancer, study claims

Experts claim that while an SPF cream (stock image) can stop the short-term effects of sunbathing, it allows enough rays through to cause potentially fatal disease in the long term

Researchers from Manchester found that while an SPF cream stops the short-term effects of sunbathing, it allows enough rays through to cause damage in the long term.

Half the experts pushing statins for millions more patients have cash links to drug firms: Call for inquiry into panel's connections

Statins: NHS

Six of the 12-strong panel have received thousands of pounds from manufacturers – either by being paid directly to give speeches or ‘advice’, or through funding for research.

Not tonight darling, the World Cup is on! 40% of men would turn down sex to watch football

40% of men would turn down sex to watch football

Even if they do get intimate with their partners, 42 per cent will try to 'get it over with quickly' in order to leave them free to watch the football in peace.

Toddler who suffered brain damage at birth defies doctors to learn to walk by copying PIRATES on his favourite TV show

Leo

Leo Burrell, two, from Warwickshire (and right and inset having treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital), was starved of oxygen at birth and his parents were warned he would never walk, talk or feed himself. But, on his second birthday, he took his first unaided steps after watching pirates on Swashbuckle walk the plank. His mother, Carol, 33, said: 'It was just amazing, we just couldn't believe it.' He also defied medics by learning to speak aged 20 months.

'Upmarket' fizzy drinks with more sugar than Coke and Pepsi: Brands of ginger beer and cloudy lemonade have up to four teaspoons more than big brand cola

Fizz: How the sugar content of a variety of soft drinks compares

Thought they may seem a healthy alternative to Coke, soft drinks like pink lemonade, elderflower spritz and ginger beer are all more sugary than Coca-Cola and Pepsi, researchers warn.

Leukaemia pill could help fight other types of cancer: Drug may also stop disease returning by restricting tumour growth

Pills previously used to treat leukaemia could now be used to tackle other cancers. File photo

British-led study provides the first evidence that drugs can significantly restrict tumour growth and reduce the chances of relapse across a broad range of cancers

Now that's a sexual high! Lubricant laced with cannabis oils makes women more relaxed - and can lead to multiple orgasms

A Californian company has created 'sensual enhancement oil' (pictured) for women which is made from a mixture of coconut cannabis oils

A Californian company has created 'sensual enhancement oil' (pictured) which it claims can relax women, and even lead to multiple orgasms.

Unfit? You're more likely to have memory problems

Benefit: Staying fit - and therefore having good heart health - prevents memory loss, say researchers

The risk of developing learning and memory problems is 'significantly greater' for people with poor cardiovascular health, say Brigham Young University researchers.

How we've ballooned in 60 years: In 1954, women lived on beef stew, never went to the gym - yet had waists like Angelina Jolie. Not any more!

changes in women

In every single vital statistic, today's British women are bigger than their Fifties counterparts. In 1954, the average woman stood 5ft 2in tall, weighed 9st 10lb and was a size 12. She had a seductive hour-glass figure - 36B breasts, 39in hips and a tiny 27in waist - about the same size as Angelina Jolie's midriff.

New six-minute test could offer a way of identifying early stage Parkinson's disease for the first time

A new six-minute test could diagnose Parkinson's disease in its early stages. Michael J. Fox (pictured) was diagnosed with the disease in 1991

Researchers at the University of Oxford say Parkinson's patients, such as Michael J. Fox (pictured), can currently only be diagnosed when the disease is well-established.

Critics attack 'crazy' scientists who have created life-threatening flu virus that closely resembles 1918 strain which killed 50m

Bird flu viruses (pictured) could unleash a pandemic as ferocious as the one which killed 50 million in 1918

The University of Wisconsin-Madison examined the 1918 flu. But critics say the risks of their work outweighs the potential health benefits of the study's findings

I spent £5,000 on a gastric band - and then gorged on melted Mar Bars: Why an operation couldn't help Bernette beat her sugar cravings

BERNETTE CLARKE

Bernette Clarke, 49, paid to have a gastric band fitted privately when she weighed 17st 12lb, far right, but admits it hasn't solved her problem with food.

Pensioner dies of a stroke after waiting two hours for an ambulance despite living 100 YARDS from the nearest hospital

Trevor Bryer

When Trevor Bryer (left) collapsed at his Llanelli home his wife Karen dialled 999. But despite three desperate attempts to call for help, his widow Karen Bryer was forced to watch her husband of 24 years deteriorate in front of her eyes. An ambulance finally arrived, having travelled more than an hour from Haverfordwest, 46 miles away, taking Mr Bryer to the Prince Philip Hospital, which is visible from the Bryer's home (right, circled in red). Two days later the 72-year-old former policeman lost his fight for life. Recalling the 'worst night of her life', Mrs Bryer said if she had been strong enough she would have carried her husband to the hospital, adding she thought about driving but hasn't been behind the wheel for years. She said: 'I thought the best thing to do was to let the ambulance crew see him first. But we waited and waited. How is it that an ambulance took almost two hours to arrive?' The Welsh Ambulance Service has launched an investigation into what happened.

Could 'editing' genes be the key to curing HIV? Giving patients altered blood cells could make them resistant to the virus

A new 'genome editing' technique could be the key to curing HIV. Image shows HIV in human tissue

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have demonstrated that it is possible to alter the genetic material of some stem cells to provide HIV resistance.

Another reason why you shouldn't kiss your dog: Pets could pass antibiotic resistant infections to humans, scientists warn

Pets could transmit antibiotic resistant infections to humans, researchers believe

Researchers at Massey University, in New Zealand, say resistant infections have been found in most household pets and the bacteria is spread by fluids and faeces.

Husband dies before his new wife could donate her kidney as a wedding present

Lee and Lisa Parcel

Lee Parcel, from Cardiff, passed away with his wife Lisa at his side, before the 27-year-old could donate her kidney to her partner of 14 years (pictured right on their wedding day). He was diagnosed with serious kidney failure three years ago. The couple tied the knot last June, as Mrs Parcel promised to donate an organ as her wedding gift to him. But the 33-year-old never regained the strength to undergo the transplant operation and died before Mrs Parcel could fulfill her life-saving promise. She said: 'I'm heartbroken but I am a very lucky girl to be able to say I was his wife.' Mr Parcel (left in hospital) was a registered organ donor and after passing away his organs were donated to help save the lives of three others on the transplant list.

'Butter and cheese saved my son': Boy, 6, who used to have 300 fits a DAY has his life transformed by a high fat diet

Charlie had his first epileptic fit when he was two and medication was unable to control his seizures

Charlie Smith, from Epsom, is epileptic and drugs failed to help control his seizures. His life has been transformed by a special high fat, low carbohydrate diet.

'Super-mums' who worry about being the perfect parent are more likely to develop depression, experts claim

Mothers who try to be perfect parents are more likely to develop depression, new research shows

Researchers at the University of Michigan found mothers who feel under pressure to stop their children misbehaving could be putting themselves under too much stress.

HALF of the siblings of autistic children develop abnormally - but the other half either develop the condition or have slower development

Nearly half of the siblings of autistic children develop abnormally, new research suggests

Researchers at UC Davis found 17 per cent of the siblings of autistic children go on to develop autism and a further 28 per cent show delays in their development.

Forget inhalers - meet the Indian people who swallow live FISH to try and cure their asthma

Fish

Asthma sufferers gather every June in the southern city of Hyderabad to gulp down the fish stuffed with a yellow herbal paste, in hopes it will help them breathe more easily. The herbs are inserted in the mouth of a live sardine, or murrel fish, and the wriggling 5cm fish are slipped into the patient's throat, often leaving them gagging. The family maintains the fish clear the throat on their way down and permanently cure asthma and other respiratory problems - if the treatment is administered three years running.After digesting the treatment, patients are told to go on a strict diet for 45 days.

Giving statins to millions more 'could be a disaster': Leading doctors say decision to give drugs to healthy Britons could cause harm to patients

'Disaster': Millions of healthy Britons are about to be given statins needlessly which could lead to a 'public health disaster' if the NHS does not halt the plans, leading doctors warn

Group of leading doctors also claim that eight of the 12-strong panel of experts who are drawing up the guidelines have financial links to firms making statins.

One in five cancer patients delay visiting their GP by at least three months after first noticing the symptoms

Self examination: Cancer

A study found prostate and rectal cancer patients were the most likely to delay seeing a doctor and those with breast cancer the least likely.

Women who have 15 or more moles on one arm may have a higher risk of breast cancer

Women with lots of moles are more likely to develop breast cancer, new research suggests (file picture)

Researchers at Indiana University say these woman are 35 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those with no moles.

Avoid this GP like the plague: Patients; warning on doctor who 'closes surgery for 5 hours a day and takes calls on mobile during appointments'

Failures: Dr Bijan Saha is facing sanctions after being accused of taking mobile phone calls during appointments, storing drugs dangerously and failing to respect patients¿ privacy

Patients described Dr Bijan Saha as 'terrible' and advised others to avoid his surgery in Sittingbourne, Kent - where he is the only GP 'like the plague'.

'I gave up cider and lost 11 stone': Binge drinker who ballooned to 22st during divorce sheds half his body weight

Mitch JOnes

Mitch Jones, from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, saw his weight spiral after his marriage ended and he faced redundancy. After hitting rock bottom in 2006, he ballooned from 16 stone to 22 stone (left) in just three months, gorging on food and binge drinking. But in 2011, while shopping for new clothes, Mr Jones caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. He vowed to loose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Today the 39-year-old weighs a healthy 12 stone and his waist measurement has shrunk from 52 to 30 inches (right and inset). The wellbeing consultant, said: 'I'm two years slim now and I feel like a completely different person.'

Do YOU get sex headaches? MEN are more likely to suffer them - and they could be a sign of an underlying health problem

Pain: Men who are more likely to suffer from headaches following a night of passion than women - and it could be a sign of an underlying health problem

Around one per cent of people experience headaches during or after sex, also known as ‘orgasmic cephalalgia’, says Chicago-based neurologist Dr Jose Biller.

Fertility clinics are 'exploiting' some infertile women, claims IVF pioneer Lord Winston

Lord Robert Winston, an IVF expert, has today warned some clinics are 'exploiting' infertile women

The Labour peer said today in the House of Lords, regulation by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority allows for 'entirely unvalidated experimental treatment'.

Scientists create an 'eye-in-a-dish': Light sensitive retina produced using stem cells could one day help blind regain their sight

A light-sensitive 'eye-in-a-dish' has been created by scientists in Maryland. The three dimensional structure represents a first step towards restoring sight to the blind, say the researchers. Pictured are the photoreceptors (in green) within a 'mini retina' structure (blue) that was created using human stem cells

Scientists at John Hopkins University in Maryland copied processes that occur in the womb to create eye tissue with photoreceptors (green) in a laboratory petri dish.

Could malaria be wiped out by GM mosquitoes? Scientists find a way to kill off disease-carrying female of the species

Genetically modified mosquitoes that almost exclusively produce male offspring could wipe out malaria

Researchers at Imperial College London say introducing the GM mosquitoes to the wild could lead to the eradication of disease-carrying insects.

The four billion to one twins: Sisters Jessica and Clara become FOURTH generation born to the same family

Melanie Gwynne from Clevedon, Somerset, with her 6 month old baby twins Clara

The girls were born to school caterer Mel Gwynne, 36, from Bristol - who already has a twin sister Sherrill (bottom left). Their grandfather Kevin was a twin (bottom centre) and so was their great-grandmother Joyce (bottom right). Mrs Gwynne, baby Jessica (top left) and baby Clara (top right) will feature tonight on Channel 4's One Born Every Minute. 'Deep down I’ve always known me or my sister would have twins,' their mother said.

You really CAN be scared to death: Stressful situations may lead to bacteria entering the bloodstream, triggering a heart attack

Stress can kill: Shocking situations may lead to bacteria entering the bloodstream, triggering a heart attack

The surge of hormones following a frightening or stressful incident lead to fatal heart attacks, say scientists at Binghamton University, New York.

Are statins making us lazy? Men who take them are less likely to exercise, study finds

Scientists in Oregon have today warned a new study has found older men who take statins to help combat a high cholesterol are less likely to take regular exercise

Researchers in Oregon have raised fears about a decline in physical activity among older men who take the medication, used to help combat high cholesterol.

'I started using sunbeds when I was 13... six years later I had skin cancer': Tanning addict warns of the dangers after being diagnosed with aggressive melanoma

Megan Worrall

Megan Worral, from Liverpool, first started using sunbeds at the age of 13. Six years later she was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. The now 22-year-old told This Morning, she would jump on for the last few minutes of her mother's sunbed sessions, believing they were beneficial to her health. She said: 'Coming into school burned, and saying we had been on a sunbed, which you had to be 16 to go on, was almost a badge of honour.' Today Miss Worrall is in remission, but faces regular check-ups to watch for any further changes to moles on her body. For the last three years she has shunned sunbeds, only ever having a spray tan to fake her colour. She urged others to avoid sunbeds and take precautions in direct sunlight, while on holiday.

'A miracle has happened': Mother's delight as eight-year-old daughter becomes the first in the world to beat deadly brain cancer

Claudia underwent an experimental Italian treatment at Nottingham Children¿s Hospital, involving 44 gruelling sessions of radiotherapy

Claudia Burkill, from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, was diagnosed with the extremely rare and deadly metastatic pineoblastoma aged five. Several times, her parents Andrea (pictured) and Dave were told that the brain cancer would claim their daughter's life within weeks. However, after undergoing experimental treatment, the eight-year-old is now cancer free.

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Heart failure risk 'doubled by sausages': Processed meats like bangers and bacon greatly increase chance of developing condition

New research has found men who eat two sausages a day have double the risk of suffering heart failure

Men who eat two sausages a day are twice as likely to die from heart failure than those who rarely eat processed meat, according to a Swedish study

EXCLUSIVE: 'I may never get to kiss a boy': Parents of cancer victim, 16, who inspired hit film The Fault in Our Stars reveal she dreamed of a boyfriend just like movie's Gus

Fault

Esther Earl tragically died of thyroid cancer in 2010. She was a huge fan of John Green's books and she met the author at a Harry Potter convention. They became fast friends. She was his inspiration for the character played by Shailene Woodley in The Fault in Our Stars, but she never had a boyfriend the way her character Hazel did.

'I have travelled 40,000 miles just to hug my son': Parent's agony as their severely autistic son is housed in treatment unit 250 MILES away for more than two years

Sarah Medley and Phill Wills must do a 500 mille round trip to see their severely autistic 13-year-old son Josh, who is cared for at a specialist treatment centre

Josh Wills is being cared for at a specialist centre in Birmingham, 250 miles from his parents' homes in Cornwall. Sarah Medley and Phill Wills told This Morning they are desperate to bring him home.