Physicist Richard Feynman famously said, in principle, biology can be explained by understanding the “wiggling and jiggling” of atoms. For the first time, new research from the University of Bristol and the University of Waikato explains how this wiggling and jiggling of the atoms in enzymes, the proteins that make biological reactions happen, is choreographed … Continue reading Wiggling and jiggling atoms in enzymes explained

The first NHS-led clinical trial for thyroid eye disease (TED), a disfiguring condition causing protruding eyes, double vision and swelling around the eyes, has shown that widely used, expensive and time consuming radiotherapy treatment does not help people who are also given steroid tablets. However, disease severity was reduced in people who also received antiproliferative … Continue reading First NHS-led clinical trial for thyroid eye disease

GP surgeries with doctors who also have training in complementary and alternative medicines appear to be less likely to prescribe antibiotics and may hold the key to reducing over-prescribing of these drugs, suggests a study led by University of Bristol researchers published in BMJ Open. Inappropriate and over-use of antibiotics leading to antimicrobial resistance are … Continue reading Study looks at reducing over-prescribing of antibiotics

A new report has revealed that the number of people affected by tooth decay and gum disease is having a widespread and devastating impact not only on people’s mouths but also on their general health and wellbeing, particularly in the older population. The University of Bristol reports the study, led by an international team of … Continue reading Gum disease has a devastating impact on general health

Inviting men with no symptoms to a one off PSA test for prostate cancer does not save lives, according to results from the largest ever trial conducted by Cancer Research UK-funded scientists based at the University of Bristol. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Researchers at the Universities … Continue reading Largest trial ever to investigate prostate cancer screening

The widely adopted practice of issuing twenty eight day rather than longer duration prescriptions for people with long-term conditions lacks a robust evidence base and should be reconsidered, according to a study published in the British Journal of General Practice. Related research shows that considerable savings could be made by the NHS switching to longer … Continue reading Rethink on 28 day prescriptions urged

Researchers at the University of Bristol have found fat body cells in drosophila play a surprising role in sealing wounds and preventing infection. The findings are published in Developmental Cell. The University of Bristol reports the cells, which were previously thought to be immobile, propel themselves forward toward wounds with a wormlike wave motion, rather … Continue reading Fat cells help heal a wound in a fly

Scientists from the Universities of Bristol and Parma have used molecular simulations to understand resistance to osimertinib, an anticancer drug used to treat types of lung cancer. Osimertinib binds tightly to a protein, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is over-expressed in many tumours. EGFR is involved in a pathway that signals for cell proliferation, … Continue reading Computer simulations explain lung cancer drug resistance

Scientists have identified part of the molecular mechanism that gives myotis bats their extraordinary lifespans compared to other animals. The University of Bristol reports the study, co-authored by Professor Gareth Jones and Dr Roger Ransome from the University of Bristol’s Bat Ecology and Bioacoustics Lab, has been published in Science Advances. The findings point to … Continue reading Unlocking the secret behind long lived bats

Research by the University of Bristol has shed light on the way clotting cells and immune cells control their interactions with each other. The findings could lead to the development of new treatments for inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. The University of Bristol reports their researchers studied how two … Continue reading New targets for the treatment of inflammatory conditions