A new method of determining the sequence of molecules in DNA can be used to detect small fragments of cancerous genetic material in blood samples from lung cancer patients with a high degree of accuracy, according to new research published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. Results from analyses of so-called “liquid […]
Overall death rates from breast cancer fall in the EU, but rise in Poland. Researchers predict 1.4 million deaths from all cancers in 2019
Death rates from breast cancer are predicted to fall in all European Union (EU) countries in 2019 with the exception of Poland, according to new research published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. In their annual predictions for cancer deaths in the EU, Carlo La Vecchia (MD), Professor at the School of […]
Large study suggests painkillers taken during pregnancy are not a cause of asthma in children
A study of almost 500,000 women indicates that taking paracetamol or other painkillers during pregnancy is not responsible for increasing the risk of asthma in children. The research, which uses prescription data on painkillers, does support earlier findings that women taking paracetamol during pregnancy are more likely to have children who develop asthma. However, it […]
Infertility is linked to small increased risk of cancer
A study of over 64,000 women of childbearing age in the USA has found that infertility is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer compared to a group of over three million women without fertility problems, although the absolute risk is very low at just 2%. As cancer is unusual in pre-menopausal women, the […]
Air pollution causes 800,000 extra deaths a year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide
Air pollution could be causing double the number of excess deaths a year in Europe than has been estimated previously, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Using a new method of modelling the effects of various sources of outdoor air pollution on death rates, the researchers found that it caused […]
Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity each linked to unhealthy brains
Factors that influence the health of our blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood and pulse pressures, obesity and diabetes, are linked to less healthy brains, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study examined the associations between seven vascular risk factors and differences in the structures of parts of the […]
‘Broken heart’ syndrome may originate in the brain
Scientists have shown for the first time that the brain is involved in the development of a heart condition called Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). They found that regions of the brain responsible for processing emotions and controlling the unconscious workings of the body, such as heart beat, breathing and digestion, do not communicate with each other […]
Sperm quality unaffected by one course of chemotherapy for early testicular cancer
Men with early stage testicular cancer can safely receive one course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery without it having a long-term effect on their sperm count, according to a study published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. Although it is known already that several rounds of chemotherapy or high doses of […]
New heated tobacco device causes the same damage to lung cells as e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes
A new study that directly compares new heated tobacco devices with vaping and traditional cigarettes shows that all three are toxic to human lung cells. The study published in ERJ Open Research [1] suggests that the new device, which heats solid tobacco instead of an e-liquid, is no less toxic to the cells than ordinary […]
Unexpected results suggest a few joints may not harm men’s sperm. Researchers urge caution and call for more research on effects of cannabis on reproductive health
Researchers investigating the effect of cannabis smoking on men’s testicular function have made the unexpected discovery that it is linked to higher sperm counts and higher testosterone levels among moderate users compared to men who never smoked it. The study is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Previous […]