Researchers from the University of Liverpool have identified a cell type isolated from human kidneys that can help repair renal function without integrating into the kidneys (University of Liverpool, 2017). Most people know that a major function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. These waste products and … Continue reading Cells identified that could repair damaged kidney function

The Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced an all-Wales study to provide the drug Truvada to all those who would benefit from the preventative treatment (Welsh Government, 2017). The announcement follows the decision on Truvada by the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group. The study will run for at least three years and will begin this … Continue reading Vaughan Gething announces all-Wales PrEP trial

Scientists from the University of Bristol have looked at all 14,500 participants in Children of the 90s and found that if a girl’s maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy, the girl is 67% more likely to display certain traits linked to autism, such as poor social communication skills and repetitive behaviours (University of Bristol, 2017). The … Continue reading Autism more likely in girls whose maternal grandmothers smoked

Exercising on an empty stomach is likely to bring important health benefits in how the body uses stored fat, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Bath (University of Bath, 2017). The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, from academics in the University of Bath’s Department for Health, is … Continue reading Get the most out of exercise by exercising on an empty stomach

Nanotether Discovery Science, a Cardiff-based pharmaceutical research technology business, has been acquired for £265,000 by medical device company Belluscura (Insider Media, 2017). Nanotether owns intellectual property designed to accelerate the rate at which biomolecular interactions can be studied via biological assays, intended for use in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets, especially where high throughput drug … Continue reading Nanotether acquired by Belluscura

Older people who have been newly prescribed sleeping pills like benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are more than as likely to have a hip fracture in the first two weeks compared with non-users, according to a new study by researchers at Cardiff University and King’s College London (Cardiff University, 2017). Dr Ben Carter, who works at Cardiff … Continue reading Sleeping pills linked to hip fractures

A new powered ankle prosthesis, developed by prosthetics maker Chas A. Blatchford & Sons, along with University of Bath researchers, combines an electric hydraulic system with an intricate pattern of sensors (Alliance of Advanced Biomedical Engineering, 2017). These components allow people to climb slopes easily and plant their feet firmly on the ground without them … Continue reading More advanced powered ankle prosthesis developed

Having previously debunked the claim that fish don’t feel pain, the University of Liverpool’s Dr Lynne Sneddon has become a leading figure in the movement to reduce, replace and refine the use of animals in scientific research (University of Liverpool, 2017). Uncomfortable with the increasing use of adult fish in pain research, she and her … Continue reading Zebrafish larvae could be an alternative pain research model

Extremely premature lambs have been kept alive in an artificial uterus for four weeks (New Scientist, 2017). The system uses a fluid-filled plastic bag and could be used for premature babies within the next three years. “We’ve developed a system that, as closely as possible, reproduces the environment of the womb and replace the function … Continue reading Lamb in a bag: artificial uterus could offer hope for human babies

A stomach hormone that stimulates appetite seems to promote the growth of new brain cells and protect them from the effects of ageing, and may explain why some people say that fasting makes them feel mentally sharper (New Scientist, 2017). When ghrelin was first discovered, it became known as the hunger hormone. It is made … Continue reading Hunger hormone appears to promote the growth of new brain cells