"Antibiotics ‘seen using brute force to kill bugs”,"BBC News reports. The hope is that researchers could replicate the effect to create new antibiotics that could help combat the continuing threat of antibiotic resistance. The BBC reports on an early stage laboratory study investigating how our strongest antibacterial drugs target and destroy "hard to kill" bacteria such as
"Avoid liquorice while pregnant: Scientists find one of its ingredients can affect a child’s IQ, memory and even cause ADHD," the Mail Online reports. Researchers found eating liquorice in pregnancy is linked to a range of developmental issues. The news is based on Finnish research on almost 400 young adolescents with an average age of
"Widely used anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen have little more benefit than a placebo when it comes to treating back pain," reports the Guardian. This is based on a study looking at more than 6,000 people with back pain, comparing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with a placebo ("dummy" medicine). While NSAIDs were found to reduce pain
"Good night’s sleep boosts sex life for women over 50," reports the Mail Online. US researchers asked more than 93,000 women aged 50 to 79 about their sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping, sexual activity and sexual satisfaction. They found women who sleep five or less hours a night, or who have insomnia, were less likely to
"Mind-reading machine allows people with ‘locked-in’ syndrome to communicate," reports the Mail Online. The report is based on a study that aimed to communicate with four patients unable to speak, move or blink due to a severe form of motor neurone disease (MND). The patients were able to give "yes" or "no" answers to a
"Experts have revealed the onset of diabetes, or existing diabetes getting much worse could be a sign of hidden pancreatic cancer," reports The Daily Express. The media reports follow a press release of a study presented at the European Cancer Congress (ECCO) yesterday. The research analysed nearly a million people with type 2 diabetes in Belgium
"Breath test could save lives by diagnosing deadly cancers earlier," reports The Daily Telegraph. The story is based on new research into whether it is possible to detect cancers of the stomach and oesophagus (gullet) using a breath test. A possible "chemical signature" composed of five substances was tested against the breath samples of more than 300 people
"Alzheimer’s may begin in the womb because mums are short of crucial vitamin, scientists warn," the Daily Mirror reports. New research involving both mice and humans looked at the link between vitamin A deficiency, brain development and Alzheimer’s risk. Vitamin A helps boost the immune system and is mainly found in animal sources, including dairy, eggs, meat and oily
“Depression linked to higher chance of dying from cancer,” The Independent reports. Analysis of English and Scottish data found a link between mental distress and cancer mortality, which remained even after other factors such as smoking were taken into account. However, you definitely should not assume this means lots of people with mental health problems
"Nearly 1 in 10 British women [7.5%] finds sex painful, according to a big study," BBC News reports. The study’s results highlight the arguably neglected issue of pain during sex – dyspareunia – which some women may be too embarrassed to seek treatment for. Researchers surveyed almost 7,000 sexually active women and found 7.5% reported pain
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