Laser treatment prostate cancer is a potential game changer
Scientists at University College London have made what they believe is a real breakthrough for prostate cancer, long seen as the Cinderella of cancers, using a drug derived from bacteria found at the bottom of the sea, injected into the bloodstream and activated in the prostate by laser beams (The Guardian, 2016). The treatment has … Continue reading Laser treatment prostate cancer is a potential game changer
Further evidence found for causal links between cannabis and schizophrenia
A study by the University of Bristol’s School of Experimental Psychology has found people with a greater risk of developing schizophrenia are more likely to try cannabis (University of Bristol, 2016). Earlier this year scientists warned about the increased risk of psychosis for vulnerable people who use cannabis. Their warnings followed evidence suggesting an increased … Continue reading Further evidence found for causal links between cannabis and schizophrenia
Cardiff University developing low-cost tool for dementia assessment
Cardiff University has been awarded around half a million pounds to develop a low-cost cognitive tool for dementia assessment in low and middle income countries (LMICs) (Cardiff University, 2016). Expanding on existing work at Cardiff University and the University of California, San Francisco, the new project will generate novel tablet-based tools for dementia diagnosis, in … Continue reading Cardiff University developing low-cost tool for dementia assessment
Scientists trial a living bandage for knee injuries
A living bandage made from stem cells, which could revolutionise the treatment and prognosis of meniscal tears, a common sporting knee injury, has been trialled in humans for the first time by scientists at the Universities of Bristol and Liverpool (University of Bristol, 2016). Meniscal tears are suffered by over one million people a year … Continue reading Scientists trial a living bandage for knee injuries
Scientists identify a cause and possible route to treat ALS
A team of researchers, lead by Professor William Griffiths of Swansea University Medical School and Professor Martin Turner of the University of Oxford, have published the results of a study that shows for the first time people with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) have higher levels of cholesterol in the fluid surrounding the brain than people … Continue reading Scientists identify a cause and possible route to treat ALS
Bristol University researchers looking for dogs with osteoarthritis for new study
The University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences is asking owners of dogs showing signs of osteoarthritis to take part in a first study of its kind to find out whether an omega-3 oil derived from algae can help dogs with osteoarthritis (University of Bristol, 2016). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid found … Continue reading Bristol University researchers looking for dogs with osteoarthritis for new study
Organic crystal research secures EU funding
A University of Bristol-led international project investigating a new method of controlling the growth of organic crystals has been awarded €2.9m in Horizon 2020 funding (University of Bristol, 2016). The MagnaPharm project aims to direct polymorphism in pharmaceutical compounds by crystallising them in high magnetic fields. The ability to direct polymorphism would have a transformative … Continue reading Organic crystal research secures EU funding
Study finds strobe light could be used to treat Alzheimer’s
A study in mice by researchers at MIT has found exposure to flickering light stimulated brain waves appears to prompt the brain’s immune cells to absorb the sticky amyloid proteins that are the most visible hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (The Guardian, 2016). The authors of the study don’t yet know whether the findings would be … Continue reading Study finds strobe light could be used to treat Alzheimer’s
Paralysed people use cutlery with robotic hand exoskeleton
Researchers at the University Hospital of Tübingen have helped six quadriplegic people to regain the ability to do everyday tasks like using cutlery or signing documents. The system required no surgery and is mobile enough to use outside a laboratory (New Scientist, 2016). Surjo Soekadar, from the University Hospital of Tübingen, said “The patients were … Continue reading Paralysed people use cutlery with robotic hand exoskeleton
Drones won’t effect blood product say Johns Hopkins University study
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that large bags of blood products can maintain temperature and cellular integrity while transported by drones (Scienmag, 2016). The findings, published in Transfusion in November, adds to the evidence that drones are a safe, effective and timely way to quickly transport blood products to remote accident or natural disaster … Continue reading Drones won’t effect blood product say Johns Hopkins University study
