A large international study conducted in collaboration with the University of Birmingham has found that an MRI scan and targeted prostate biopsies are significantly better at making a positive prostate cancer diagnosis than standard biopsies. The University of Birmingham reports the PRECISION trial randomly allocated five hundred men with suspected prostate cancer from thirty five … Continue reading MRI scans increase detection of prostate cancer

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have been awarded nearly £3m from Cancer Research UK to investigate cancers that are resistant to treatment. The University of Birmingham reports their researchers Dr Clare Davies and Dr Daniel Tennant have been commended by Cancer Research UK for submitting ambitious bids based on “exciting” findings from their existing … Continue reading Award of £3m to investigate treatment resistant cancers

Scientists have identified a single genetic change in salmonella that is playing a key role in the devastating epidemic of bloodstream infections currently killing around four people each year in Sub-Saharan Africa. Invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis (iNTS) occurs when salmonella bacteria, which normally cause gastrointestinal illness, enter the bloodstream and spread through the human body. The … Continue reading Single genetic change makes African salmonella dangerous

A team of experts has recommended GPs encourage people with hypertension to monitor their blood pressure at home and use those readings in their day to day care. The University of Birmingham reports its researchers, along with colleagues at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, carried out a trial which showed that when GPs base … Continue reading GPs should encourage blood pressure monitoring at home

New research has found no evidence Omega-3 fish oil supplements help aid or improve the reading ability or memory function of under-performing school children. The University of Birmingham reports these findings are in contradiction to an earlier study run by the same team using the same supplement. In the second high quality trial of its … Continue reading Omega-3 won’t improve children’s reading skills or memory

The University of Birmingham reports that in a study it carried out with colleagues from the University of York, published in Current Biology, researchers found new insight into the process of memory consolidation during sleep. Their findings could also suggest new ways to help people remember things better, according to the researchers. Scientists have long … Continue reading Memories can be decoded from brain waves during sleep

A study by the University of Birmingham has revealed a treatment gap for people with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a major global public health problem. It is associated with a fivefold increase in risk of stroke. There are three types of atrial fibrillation; paroxysmal, persistent or … Continue reading Atrial fibrillation treatment gap increases stroke risk

University of Birmingham researchers are investigating the health risks faced by Rwandan families cooking on traditional charcoal fired stoves. The University of Birmingham reports a new study looks at health impact on mothers and their children of household air pollution associated with biomass fuel cooking, which is common in homes across the country. Working with … Continue reading Cutting charcoal health risk to Rwandan families

A study jointly led by the University of Birmingham and University of Edinburgh has revealed that a new scanning technology could almost halve the number of liver biopsies carried out on people with fatty liver disease. The University of Birmingham reports the authors of the study, which was also carried out in collaboration with the … Continue reading Scanning technology could halve number of liver biopsies

The University of Birmingham will play a leading role in a new £2.3m clinical trial aimed at improving treatment to prevent potentially deadly bleeding in people with liver cirrhosis. The University of Birmingham understands the CALIBRE (Carvedilol versus variceal band ligation in primary prevention of variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis) trial is to be the … Continue reading £2.3m clinical trial to improve treatment of liver cirrhosis