What the scientists are saying…
HRT and breast cancer Undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may triple a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer, scientists have found. The study involving 39,000 women concluded that taking combined therapy – a mixture of oestrogen and progestogen – for five years increases the likelihood of breast cancer by a factor of 2.7, rising to 3.3 after 15 years. However, the other form of HRT, which only has oestrogen, does not appear to be associated with any raised risk. Studies have shown a link between HRT and breast cancer before, but according to Professor Anthony Swerdlow, of the Institute of Cancer Research, his findings indicate that the risks are “larger than most of the literature would suggest”. An estimated one in ten British women in their 50s are on HRT; and most prescriptions are for the combined treatment, because the oestrogen-only one has been linked to an increased risk of womb cancer. But as alarming as the findings seem, the risks for women on HRT remain small: the study found that for every 1,000 women in their 50s on combined HRT, 34 will develop breast cancer, whereas for every 1,000 women not on HRT, 14 will. Additionally, the risk reverts back to normal within a year or two of a patient coming off HRT, the researchers found.
The “perfect” painkiller Scientists in the US have discovered a painkiller that seems to work just as well as morphine – but without its potentially lethal side effects. The chemical compound PZM21, which has so far only been tested on mice, appears to target the same painreducing brain receptors as opium-derived painkillers such as morphine, but is more selective: as a result it does not seem to cause the potentially lethal breathing problems, or the constipation, associated with morphine. Moreover, based on assessments of how the mice moved after taking it, the researchers conclude that PZM21 causes less activation of the brain’s reward system, indicating that unlike morphine, it may not be addictive. Scientists hailed the study as “very exciting”. However, the research is in its early stages: the compound has yet to be shown to be safe and effective on humans.
Two-hour test for meningitis Doctors could now be able to tell, in just two hours, whether a feverish child is suffering from a common virus – or a life-threatening illness such as sepsis. There is currently no quick method for distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections; the standard test involves taking fluid from the base of the spine and seeing if bacterial cultures develop – which can take 48 hours. As a result, many children who merely have viruses are given antibiotics, while others who urgently need antibiotics may be sent home with just paracetamol. However, scientists at Imperial College London have developed a method that works by detecting genes in the bloodstream that get “switched on” by bacterial infections. So far, it has only been trialled on small children, but scientists see no reason why it shouldn’t work for adults, and be used by the NHS within five years. “The technology is there, now we just need the test to be developed,” lead author Professor Michael Levin told The Times. A quick way of distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections would also mean fewer antibiotics were prescribed unnecessarily, and so help in the fight against anti-microbial resistance.
The effect of a knock to the head Suffering even a mild brain trauma as a child can significantly increase a person’s likelihood of having lifelong health problems, a new study suggests. Researchers tracked more than a million Swedes up to the age of 41, and found that those who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) before the age of 25 were 58% more likely to have no secondaryschool qualifications, and more than twice as likely to have been hospitalised for psychiatric disorders, as those who’d not had head injuries. TBI sufferers were also more likely to die early. “We found that even a single mild traumatic brain injury will predict poor adult functioning,” said Amir Sariaslan from Oxford University, which conducted the study. The findings come only a few months after UK health experts called for a ban on tackling in school rugby games, citing the risk of head injuries as a major factor.