Marfan syndrome

5 Stories

Woman Once Called 'World's Ugliest' Shows True Beauty

'A Brave Heart' tells Lizzie Velasquez's story—and how she's fighting bullying

(Newser) - "I thought everyone looked like me." That's how Lizzie Velasquez viewed herself growing up—until she was 17 and accidentally found a terrible video on YouTube. It was an eight-second clip of her entitled "The World's Ugliest Woman," and to her horror it had...

Days Before NBA Draft, a Devastating Diagnosis

Isaiah Austin has Marfan syndrome, can no longer play basketball

(Newser) - A routine physical delivered career-ending news for Isaiah Austin, a former Baylor Bears star who was expected to be drafted to the NBA late in the first round Thursday. After the EKG test at the NBA combine came back with abnormal results, additional genetic tests revealed that the 20-year-old center...

Man Saved Own Heart—Using Gardening Trick

Now more than 40 have undergone procedure

(Newser) - A heart problem put a British engineer's life at risk for decades—but presented with surgery options, he was "unimpressed." So Tal Golesworthy, now 57, decided to take matters into his own hands, and the successful procedure he came up with has now helped more than 40...

Mona Lisa Suffered Sky-High Cholesterol

Pathologist identifies sick subjects of the Renaissance

(Newser) - Leonardo da Vinci's model for the Mona Lisa was smiling despite some serious health problems, according to an Italian pathologist applying his knowledge to Renaissance painting. Professor Vito Franco of the University of Palermo says a tumor on her hand and apparent buildups of fatty acids around her eyes show...

Rare Disorder May Have Afflicted Lincoln

Syndrome would account for height, sons' deaths, doc says

(Newser) - Abraham Lincoln may have been the first known victim of an exceedingly rare genetic disorder, and the 16th President was probably dying of cancer when he was assassinated, an expert says. The cancer-causing syndrome would account for his height, bumpy lips, and other conditions—but corroborating the theory with DNA...

5 Stories