Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...

World facing polio health emergency   BBC News outlines the struggle against polio - in 60 seconds Continue reading the main story Related Stories Battle against polio - in 60 seconds Watch Polio casts a shadow over the Middle East History of polio The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of polio is an international public health emergency.  Outbreaks in Asia, Africa and Middle East are an "extraordinary event" needing a co-ordinated "international response", the agency says . It recommends citizens of affected countries travelling abroad carry a vaccination certificate. It says Pakistan, Cameroon, and Syria "pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014." The WHO recorded 417 cases of polio worldwide for the whole of 2013. For 2014, it had already recorded 68 cases by 30 April - up from 24 in the same period last year. ...

Maternal deaths falling worldwide, says WHO Thirty-three maternal deaths per hour is too many, say experts Continue reading the main story Related Stories Maternal deaths 'fall worldwide' Maternal deaths have fallen worldwide, dropping by 45% since 1990, according to new figures. The statistics, released by the World Health Organization , also provide new evidence on the causes of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth. The WHO says most are preventable, highlighting the need for more investment in pregnancy care. In 1990, more than half a million women died in pregnancy or childbirth - by 2013 the figure was 289,000. But the WHO say the figure it still too high - with 33 maternal deaths around the world every hour. The gap between rich and poor countries is wide. In sub-Saharan Africa, a 15-year-old girl has a one in 40 risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth. In Europe, that risk is one in...

NI women not entitled to free NHS abortions in England says High Court Solicitor Angela Jackman said the case would be pursued in the Court of Appeal Continue reading the main story Related Stories 51 abortions performed in NI in year Consultation on NI's abortion laws Women from Northern Ireland are not legally entitled to free abortions on the NHS in England, the High Court in London has ruled.  The case was brought by a 15-year-old girl and her mother who live in Northern Ireland. Unlike the rest of the UK, abortion is only allowed in very restricted circumstances in Northern Ireland. More than 1,000 women each year travel from NI to have an abortion in other parts of the UK. Those who do travel must pay for their transport, accommodation and the cost of the procedure. The case was brought by the 15-year-old girl (claimant A), whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons. Afte...

Black Death skeletons give up secrets of life and death By Helen Briggs BBC News Museum of London Archaeology excavated the Royal Mint Black Death cemetery in the 80s Continue reading the main story Related Stories Crossrail digs up Black Death victims Could bubonic plague strike again? The medieval Black Death led to better health for future generations, according to an analysis of skeletons in London cemeteries. Tens of millions of people died in the epidemic, but their descendants lived longer and had better health than ever before, a study shows. The Black Death was one of the most devastating epidemics in human history. But survivors benefited from rising standards of living and better diets in the aftermath of the disaster. The improvements in health only occurred because of the death of huge numbers of people, said a US scientist. It is evidence of how ...

World facing polio health emergency Polio is still a problem in a number of countries, including Pakistan Continue reading the main story Related Stories World now 80% polio free, WHO says Polio casts a shadow over the Middle East Polio scourge threatens Middle East The World Health Organization has declared the spread of polio is an international public health emergency.  Outbreaks in Asia, Africa and Middle East are an "extraordinary event" needing a co-ordinated "international response", the agency said. It recommends citizens of affected countries travelling abroad carry a vaccination certificate. The conditions for a public health emergency of "international concern" were met, said the WHO's Bruce Aylward. The polio virus can be deadly   Mr Aylward, WHO Assistant Director General, was speaking after an emergency meeting in Geneva on...

New blood 'recharges old brain', mouse study suggests By Helen Briggs BBC News Can ageing be reversed with a blood transfusion? Continue reading the main story Related Stories Dieting monkeys offer long life hope Clue to why women live longer Researchers in the US say they might have discovered how to combat and even reverse some effects of ageing, at least in mice. Injecting the blood of young mice into older rodents boosted their brainpower, a study found. The scientists now want to carry out trials in people in the hope that new treatments for dementia can be developed. A UK dementia research charity said the human significance was unknown. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote There are factors present in blood from young mice that can recharge an old mouse's brain so that it functions more like a younger one” Dr Tony Wyss-Coray Stanford University S...

Protein could bring hope to brittle bone disease   Scientists hope their findings could help to treat common forms of osteoporosis Continue reading the main story Related Stories Over-50s osteoporosis scale revealed Obesity 'may pose osteoporosis risk' 'Nasa test' spots early bone loss A discovery in mice could help to treat people with a form of brittle bone disease, scientists said.  In an American study, mice were bred with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and the activity of a protein which shapes and reshapes bones was monitored. Scientists said intense activity of the protein in the mice was linked to OI. They said the finding could lead to a new target for treatment, but experts warn the study is in mice and might not apply to humans. Human trials?   One in 15,000 people in the UK are estimated to have osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). It is an inherited condition, where abnorm...

Hormone boost 'may help infertility' By Pippa Stephens Health reporter, BBC News   Experts said the small "concept study" was "heartening" Continue reading the main story Related Stories Lifestyle 'link to miscarriage risk' Baby born after 20 miscarriages 'Crucial' new miscarriage insight A study shedding light on the way key hormones affect the brain could pave the way for new fertility treatments, researchers say. The Imperial College London team studied five women with hypothalamic amenorrhea - a condition common in athletes, which makes periods stop. Stimulating the brain to make more of the hormone, kisspeptin, could boost fertility, they said. While the study is small, they said it proved an interesting concept. The scientists looked at kisspeptin and another reproductive hormone which is depleted in women with H...

Women who smoke while pregnant could be damaging their babies' hearts Continue reading the main story Related Stories Maternal smoking 'harms thousands' Babies' heart risk 'shaped early on' Smoking bans 'improve child health' Babies born to women over 35 who smoke are at greater risk of having specific heart defects, suggests American research. The study, from Seattle Children's Hospital, adds to existing evidence that smoking during pregnancy can damage babies' hearts, as well as increase the risk of miscarriage, small babies and premature birth. Around 13% of women smoke during pregnancy in England. The government has set a target of 11%. Smoking during early pregnancy could account for 1%-2% of all heart defects in babies, the study said. The study is being presented at a meeting of the Pediatric Academic Soci...

Continue reading the main story Related Stories Child mortality 'still too high' Young mum 'child death risk' link Smoking bans 'improve child health' The UK has one of the highest rates of death for children under five in Western Europe, according to new research published in The Lancet. In 2013, the mortality rate for under-fives in the UK was 4.9 deaths per 1,000 - more than double the rate of 2.4 per 1,000 in Iceland, the country with the lowest rate. Poverty and smoking in pregnancy are two of many factors cited by experts. The analysis by US experts shows the UK rate is still low by global standards. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote These latest figures put us rock bottom of the Western European league table” Dr Ingrid Wolfe, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health   The analysis of data on 188 countries wa...

  The study will try to find early markers for dementia Related Stories UK Biobank achieves 500,000 target Watch UK biobank opens to researchers A third of a million adults in the UK are to be invited to take part in the world's biggest study of cognitive function.  The aim of the trial, funded by the Medical Research Council, is to try to predict what factors may increase the risk of developing dementia. All the participants will be part of UK Biobank, and previously gave DNA samples and lifestyle information. They will be asked to do a series of memory and reasoning tests online. When they were enrolled in UK Biobank over the past decade, volunteers gave blood and urine samples, underwent a fitness test and answered questions on their health and diet. Puzzles   They also did a series of computer-based puzzles - th...