Health News

Anni and Ashot Manukyan, an Armenian-American couple of Glendale, Los Angeles, were distraught last year when they had two embryos implanted at CHA Fertility Center, but it didn't result in a pregnancy. But months later, the knife was twisted: they were asked to come into the center for cheek swabs on April 18, which were passed off as a routine annual procedure. Days later they received a phone call informing them that the swab was in fact a DNA test, which confirmed that another couple in New York, also patients at CHA, had delivered their baby prematurely on March 31 - as well as another baby, belonging to a third couple whose embryos were on ice at CHA.

Afsheen Kumbar (pictured left and right), 11, of Mithi in Sindh, Pakistan, is thought to suffer from a muscular disorder that has caused her to develop a severely-twisted neck, known medically as torticollis. The family have no idea what the future holds for Afsheen but they are unable to pay for surgery to try and repair the defect because they live off a salary of just £60 per year.

Researchers found every 100ml serving of pure fruit juice consumed each day- whether freshly squeezed or sold in a bottle - increases the odds of developing cancer by 12 per cent. And drinking the same volume of sweetened soft drinks - such as cordial or fizzy pop - increases cancer risk by 19 per cent. Doctors said the study - which tracked more than 100,000 people in France - strengthens the case for robust Government action to cut our high consumption of sugary drinks (right). But the findings come after Tory leadership contender Boris Johnson (left) last week said he may reverse Theresa May's flagship sugar levy on soft drinks, belittling such measures 'sin stealth taxes'.

Shane Philipps, 17 months (right), from Haddon Heights, New Jersey, lost the ability to kick his legs, lift his arms and roll over. He was diagnosed at 10 months with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease that weakens the physical muscles. Shane's parents (left, with Shane) learned that a genetic screening as a newborn could have started him on treatment much sooner. They are now fighting for mandatory screenings in New Jersey, and a bill is currently being reviewed by state senate committee.

Neev (pictured right) and Nelly Kolestein (left), from Amsterdam, have been attached by the backs of their heads for their 18 years of life but have their own brains and bodies. Their mother, who does not want to be identified, was told her babies would be joined at the head during labour in Suriname, South America. Medics were convinced the girls would die shortly after birth, and if they survived, it was expected their life would be a struggle before dying around the age of ten. They are unable to be separated because they share a main artery in the head which keeps them alive, the family said. But the twins are thriving and admit they would never want to be separated anyway - despite cruel torments throughout their lives.

Cleveland Clinic attempted the first womb transplant in the US in 2016 but it failed. The donor had suffered from an undiagnosed bacterial infection that forced doctors to remove the womb before pregnancy was possible. Since, more than a dozen women have given birth after womb transplants, mainly from living donors. But now, Cleveland Clinic has successfully delivered a baby girl (left) born in early June (right) to a woman who received a deceased donor's womb. An estimated one in 500 women of child bearing age worldwide are affected by uterine factor infertility.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Leann Thibodeau (right), from Port Charlotte, Florida, went swimming at Manasota Beach on Saturday, June 29. She had a pinhole-sized cut on her left foot but thought she was safe because it had scabbed over. Over the next few days, her foot became so red and swollen that she couldn't walk (left). Thibodeau went to the hospital where she was diagnosed with group A streptococcus. It's the leading cause of necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria that destroys tissue under the skin. She had surgery on her foot, her wound was stitched and she was given antibiotics to control the infection.

DaJuan Brown, 11 (left and right), from Buffalo, New York, started having uncontrolled eyed movements and slurring his words. In May, he was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. DIPGs are rare and inoperable brain tumors with a two-year survival rate of 10%. He is currently undergoing daily chemotherapy and radiation six times a week. Doctors told DaJuan's parents that he has little to no chance of survival.

After Jennifer Diosdado (left, with her husband, and right, with her family), of Cedar Hills, Texas, sneezed earlier this year, her lower back began hurting. She also began feeling numbness in her legs and lost bladder control. Diosdado visited Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome. CES is a condition in which the lower spinal cord nerves become compressed, often after a disc herniates. Doctors told the mother-of-five that if she waited any longer to seek treatment, she would have been permanently paralyzed.

Nick Humphreys, 29, of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, had no idea it was dangerous to wear contact lenses in the shower and would regularly do so. In January 2018, he noticed a painful scratch on his eye which he managed with eye drops while opticians tested for an infection. The results came back positive for the infection Acanthamoeba keratitis, when a small organism found in water is able to get into the eye through a small cut - often caused by contact lenses. In March 2018, Mr Humphreys, a local newspaper journalist and sports player, suddenly lost his vision while driving his car, and has since never recovered. He has had two operations on his eye, following months of work, and is now waiting for a corneal transplant. Pictured left, before, and right, when he had the infection.

Morgan Williams, 23 (left and right), from Texas, was living in Kona, Hawaii, when fell ill with the flu in March 2018. For two weeks, she felt a shooting pain in her hips and legs, and was soon unable to sit up or walk. She was taken to two hospitals before diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. It's a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its peripheral nervous system. Williams has learned to walk unaided again, but still experiences fatigue and residual weakness in her limbs.

Ann Arscott, 56, from Birmingham, travelled the world singing, was a music teacher and even appeared on Stars In Their Eyes in 2001 (pictured left) before suffering a stroke in 2008. She was then diagnosed with aphasia - a condition that impairs swallowing and speech that some stroke survivors are left with. Even though she has tried to regain her ability to talk with speech therapy, Ms Arscott is unable to form proper sentences and can only use specific words. However, she soon realised that her singing voice remained intact, and now uses it as a form of communication when words fail her. Ms Arscott's family credit music for helping improve her language further. Pictured right, Ms Arscott singing.

Amber Prepchuk, of Edmonton in Canada, went for a week away at a lake house last month. She brought ingredients to make cocktails for the trip with her girlfriends. Two days later, she woke in agony from blistering burns on her hands. Three weeks later, the scars are still severe and she has pigmentation on parts of her skin where the lime splattered.

All are young, fit and slim. None ever suspected they might be at risk of bowel cancer. And in many cases doctors assured them that, despite their symptoms, they were too young to have the disease. Pictured: 1. Jordan Hudson, 29, with stage four cancer. 2. Mo Haque, 36, with stage four cancer. 3. Beth Purvis, 40, with stage four cancer. 4. Suzanne Doré, 46, with stage three cancer. 5. Dee Durham, 33, with stage one cancer. 6. Laura Shannon, 31, died from cancer. 7. Richard Bingham, 41, with stage four cancer. 8. Andrea Robson, 39, stage two cancer. 9. Neil Walsh, 39, stage two cancer. 10. Zu Rafalat, 37, with stage four cancer. 11. Lee Jones, 44, with stage four cancer. 12. Vida Tonna, 37, with stage four cancer.

Antonio Martinez, 31 (top right and bottom right), of San Antonio, Texas, felt weak and lethargic and went to visit a doctor in mid-June. Tests showed that his white blood cell count and he was referred to a hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. The cancer started in Martinez's prostate and has since metastasized to his lungs. It occurs in about 350 children per year, but has only been diagnosed in about 400 adults over the last 30 years. Martinez does not have insurance and coverage won't kick in from his wife's new job for at least another two months. Pictured, left: Martinez with his wife and two chidlren

Creamy, decadent ice cream. Most of us find it utterly delicious, difficult to resist and an absolute life-saver during a glorious British heatwave. A pity, then, that just two miserly scoops can provide upward of 200 calories, four or more teaspoons of sugar, and almost half your daily recommended limit of saturated fat. Unless, that is, you buy one of a burgeoning new range of low-calorie ice creams, some of which have barely more than a total of 300 calories in a half-litre tub.These slim-line options aren't like the old diet ice creams, which were thin, bland and watery. They're often just as dense, sweet and creamy as a premium brand. But what is in these ice creams? Are they a healthy frozen miracle… or are they just too good to be true? Mail on Sunday reviews six of the most popular slim line ice creams on the market.

Owen Coulter, five (left and right, with his parents), from Liberty Hill, Texas, began experiencing flu-like symptoms in December 2018. Ten minutes after arriving at Dell Children's Medical Center, he suffered cardiac arrest. Doctors performed CPR for more than an hour and placed on an ECMO machine, which works to pump blood throughout the body. Owen's heart began beating on its own again and he had to spend 56 days at the hospital. Medical staff believe a virus infected his heart, causing it to stop beating.

Dr Dena Churchill (see left), based in Halifax, was ordered to pay the fine by a medical committee after they ruled she was spreading 'harmful' opinions about immunisations. She had breached guidelines that state that chiropractors shouldn't discuss vaccinations at all. An investigation was first launched last year after someone complained about Dr Churchill's activity online. Dr Churchill, who quit working as a chiropractor in January, said she would 'do it all again' if she was given the opportunity to do so. Pictured right, a post on her Facebook page in June.

Alyssa Kirk, 27, underwent a breast enlargement in 2016 in a bid to improve her confidence, taking her from a 32C to a 32F (see left). But six months later, her health began to decline and she suffered memory loss so severe she thought she was getting dementia. Doctors were left baffled when tests suggested Ms Kirk, from Brisbane, Australia, should be in perfect health. Ms Kirk came across 'breast implant illness' while researching online. By this point, Ms Kirk was suffering from anxiety and severe pain, leaving her unable to care for her children without help. Eventually, after being bed-bound for six months, she had surgery in June of this year to remove them (see right) - and said she already feels 'one million times better'.

Margaret Laverick, 87, has not left her home in the Scottish Borders for years. Until recently, she was also the sole carer for Bill, her husband of 64 years, whose dementia and depression had left him unable to speak. She has agoraphobia - which makes her fear and avoid the outside world. Today, she cannot even venture into her tiny garden. So she is imprisoned in her home, alone. Her circumstances are a reminder of the isolation that afflicts so many older members of society. For, sadly, Margaret is far from unique. And this kind of profound and persistent loneliness all too often goes hand in hand with disabling mental health problems which are dismissed by our healthcare professionals.

Kylei Brown, of Indiana, stunned doctors by walking, with a crutch, this week after surgeons tirelessly worked to cut the fast-moving bacteria out of her tissue. She was on vacation in Florida with her family when she started to feel pain in her calf. In the ER, they were dealt the horrifying news that it was often fatal flesh-eating bacteria. Against the odds, after multiple surgeries to cut it out, Kylei is now recovering.

Mae Beth Ruehling was 19 when a drunk driver slammed into her car in Coalmont, Tennessee, sending her into a lamppost that crashed onto her, breaking her spine. She was choking on glass, trying to call for help but no noise came out. Doctors said she would never walk again after the crash in December 2017. Now, aged 21, she has regained control of her right leg against the odds.

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Indian doctors have released a series of pictures that reportedly show how homeopathy can treat psoriasis. Six patients battling the common skin condition achieved remarkable results after allegedly taking potions including snake venom. Other remedies included a solution doused in the urethral discharge of a man who had gonorrhoea, whale vomit and decomposed beef. Critics have issued caution over the reports, saying the evidence psoriasis can be cleared by homeopathic remedies is lacking. But supporters of the treatment say millions of people around the world already rely on the controversial treatment to rid them of skin conditions. Top left, a 43-year-old patient with severe psoriasis before starting homeopathy. He is pictured top right after taking a range of remedies. Bottom left, a 40-year-old woman who suffered from psoriasis on her forearms. Bottom right, her arms after taking the remedies.

Doctors from Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia, revealed their nerve graft surgery was successful in restoring arm and hand function in a group of young people paralysed in car and sport accidents. They released fascinating video footage of a few patients showing off their ability to grasp and pick things up, as well as open and close their hands. In many cases with spinal injuries it is impossible to get back movement in the arms or legs because nerves either never regrow or take so long to do so the muscles waste away. The doctors in Melbourne said their findings were an 'exciting' development in a procedure which could transform the lives of paralysed people.

Elizabeth Jackson, 43, from London, featured in last night's Big Body Squad on Channel 5, which follows carers and medical staff who look after some of Britain's biggest people. In order to get Elizabeth, who was suffering from the potentially life-threatening skin condition cellulitis, out of her first-floor flat, four paramedics had to zip her into a specially reinforced bag and manoeuvre her down the stairs.