news 2013

Scientists at the University of Leeds have found a way to target and destroy a key protein associated with the development of cervical and other cancers. The E7 protein is produced early in the lifecycle of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and blocks the body’s natural defences against the uncontrolled division of cells that can lead to cancer.

Prolonged use of some widely used painkillers increases the risk of heart attacks by a small but significant amount, a large international study led by Oxford University researchers has found. Professor Colin Baigent of Oxford's Clinical Trial Service Unit led the research on a class of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

PA 179/13 Scientists at The University of Nottingham have found that a genetic rogue element produced by sequences until recently considered 'junk DNA' could promote cancer progression. The researchers, led by Dr Cristina Tufarelli , in the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health Sciences , discovered that the presence of this faulty genetic element — known as chimeric transcript LCT13 — is associated with the switching off of a known tumour suppressor gene (known as TFPI-2 ) whose expression is required to prevent cancer invasion and metastasis.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool and Callaghan Innovation in New Zealand have developed a new chemical approach to help harness the natural ability of complex sugars to treat Alzheimer's disease. The team used a new chemical method to produce a library of sugars, called heparan sulphates, which are known to control the formation of the proteins in the brain that cause memory loss.

Women who have mental health disorders around the time of birth are more likely to have previously experienced domestic violence, according to a study led by researchers from Kings College London and the University of Bristol and published in this week's PLOS Medicine.

A new study has proven that being bullied during childhood directly increases the likelihood of selfharm in late adolescence. The analysis, led by researchers from the University of Warwick in association with colleagues at the University of Bristol, highlights that being bullied at primary school age can cause enough distress to significantly increase the risk of self-harming in later adolescence.

Scientists led by the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have developed a new drug that could help reduce the tissue damage that occurs following a heart attack, stroke or major surgery.

Encouraging interim data from the world's first clinical trial examining the safety of neural stem cell treatment in stroke patients has been reported by researchers ahead of an application for Phase II trials. Updated interim data from the PISCES trial, which has seen the brains of ischaemic stroke patients injected with neural stem cells to test the safety and tolerability of the treatment, was presented to the 22 nd European Stroke Conference in London today.

27 May 2013 A new gene associated with a form of congenital heart disease in newborn babies - known as "a hole in the heart” has been discovered by researchers. British Heart Foundation (BHF) Professor Bernard Keavney, from The University of Manchester and Newcastle University, led the research which saw investigators from Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford and Leicester universities in the UK, together with colleagues in Europe, Australia and Canada pool resources.

Women at a particular stage in their monthly menstrual cycle may be more vulnerable to some of the psychological side-effects associated with stressful experiences, according to a study from UCL. The results suggest a monthly window of opportunity that could potentially be targeted in efforts to prevent common mental health problems developing in women.

Doctors are influenced by "prescribing etiquette" when deciding whether to give a patient antibiotics, according to new research. The cultural rules within doctors' specialties most strongly dictate their decision to prescribe antibiotics, researchers at the National Centre for Infection Prevention and Management (CIPM) at Imperial College London found in s with doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

How our bodies break down the common drugs ibuprofen, diclofenac and warfarin is the subject of a new study from the University of Bristol, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The research should ultimately help predict how new drugs will be metabolized in the body, potentially helping avoid adverse drug reactions in future.

Patients undergoing planned surgery appear more likely to die if they have their operation at the end of the week, a study has found. Researchers at Imperial College London looked at over four million elective procedures conducted in NHS hospitals in England between 2008 and 2011. They found that 27,582 patients died within 30 days of surgery.

Hernia surgery may offer good value for money and improved quality of life for patients, according to a new analysis. The government wants the NHS to make £20 billion worth of efficiency savings by 2015 and it has been suggested that money could be saved by performing fewer hernia operations. In a briefing by the Audit Commission in 2011, inguinal hernia repair surgery was included on a list of "low clinical value" treatments.

Despite current recommendations by UK welfare organisations that cats should be neutered at four months, a new study from the 'Bristol Cats' study cohort has shown that 85 per cent of pet cats are not neutered by the recommended age possibly due to cat owners needing better information about when to neuter their cat.

Older adults want to adopt modern technology to help improve their quality of life, despite a huge 'technology gap', new research has found. A pioneering study conducted by the Challenging Obstacles and Barriers Assisted Living Technology (COBALT) research team discovered that despite being branded a generation of technophobes older people are actually happy and eager to embrace new devices and equipment.

Researchers at the Universities of Surrey and Bristol have found that mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy could reduce the IQ of some babies. Professor Andrew Weeks , from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Translational Medicine , commented: "A good diet is extremely important in pregnancy.

A study of around 1,000 UK mothers and their children, published in The Lancet , has revealed that iodine deficiency in pregnancy may have an adverse effect on children's mental development. The research raises concerns that the iodine status of pregnant women is a public-health issue that needs to be addressed.

New research at The University of Nottingham aimed at preventing harmful blood clots associated with heart disease and stroke has recently received a major funding boost from the British Heart Foundation. Grants totalling more than £1.2m have been awarded to the University's School of Pharmacy and are aimed at gaining a deeper understanding and selectively targeting coagulation X factors from the blood's system.

High blood pressure is something that has traditionally been a problem in Scotland, but might there be a link to our climate? A new study has found that some people's blood pressure is affected more by the cold weather and this blood pressure sensitivity to temperature may be a marker of early mortality.