People over the age of 60 should do more exercise not less in order to prevent heart disease and stroke, according to findings from a study of over 1.1 million elderly people published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The researchers in South Korea found that people who did less moderate or vigorous physical activity […]
2019
Blood test can help GPs spot ovarian cancer in women with suspicious symptoms
Glasgow, UK: Testing for levels of CA125 in the blood is a useful tool for gauging the likelihood of ovarian cancer and could help detect other types of cancer among patients in primary care, according to research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. Although the CA125 test is already in use in countries around […]
Cervical pre-cancer can be detected in self-collected urine or vaginal samples
Glasgow, UK: Researchers have developed a non-invasive test to detect cervical pre-cancer by analysing urine and vaginal samples collected by the women themselves. In a presentation at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference, Dr Belinda Nedjai said that the self-sampling test had proved popular with women taking part in the study and this meant that it […]
AI blood test can spot signs of brain tumour to speed up diagnosis
Glasgow, UK: Chemical analysis of blood samples, combined with an artificial intelligence program, could speed up the diagnosis of brain tumours, according to research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. Brain tumours tend to have ambiguous symptoms, such as headache or memory problems, and a brain scan is currently the only reliable way of […]
Pattern of hospital visits offers clue to spotting people at risk of myeloma
Glasgow, UK: A condition that can progress to myeloma could be identified in patients by their unusually frequent hospital visits, according to research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. The study found that people with a pre-cancerous blood condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) made around twice as many visits to hospital […]
Researchers identify certain gut bacteria that may be involved in causing bowel cancer
Glasgow, UK: People who have a certain type of bacteria in their guts may be at greater risk of developing bowel cancer. In the first study to use a technique called Mendelian randomisation to investigate the causal role played by bacteria in the development of bowel cancer, Dr Kaitlin Wade, from the University of Bristol […]
Simple blood test for early detection of breast cancer
Glasgow, UK: Breast cancer could be detected up to five years before there are any clinical signs of it, using a blood test that identifies the body’s immune response to substances produced by tumour cells, according to new research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. Cancer cells produce proteins called antigens that trigger the […]
High levels of two hormones in the blood raise prostate cancer risk
Glasgow, UK: Men with higher levels of ‘free’ testosterone and a growth hormone in their blood are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. Other factors such as older age, ethnicity and a family history of the disease are already known to increase a […]
Deaths from liver cancer have tripled in past 20 years in England
Glasgow, UK: More people are being diagnosed with and dying from liver cancer in England than ever before, according to new research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. In 20 years, from 1997 to 2016, incidence and deaths from the most common form of the disease, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), have tripled and it is […]
Bed time is the best time to take blood pressure medication. Largest study finds greater reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease and death from bedtime rather than morning medication
People with high blood pressure who take all their anti-hypertensive medication in one go at bedtime have better controlled blood pressure and a significantly lower risk of death or illness caused by heart or blood vessel problems, compared to those who take their medication in the morning, according to new research. The Hygia Chronotherapy Trial, […]