Expectant mothers could halve the risk of their children becoming obese by taking a mix of common vitamins.
A study found that the children of mothers who consumed a powdered drink containing probiotics, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and D were half as likely to be obese at age two as children whose mothers took a standard prenatal supplement revenue.
Study co-author, Associate Professor Shiao Yng Chan from the National University of Singapore, says: “These early events may influence how the child responds to an unhealthy lifestyle.”
A study found that the children of mothers who consumed a powdered drink containing probiotics, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and D were half as likely to suffer from obesity by the age of two (stock image)
Device that detects the decline of Parkinson's disease
Devices that can track Parkinson's symptoms in real time are now available on the NHS.
The motion sensors, which are usually worn on the wrist, can measure stiffness and involuntary tremors, for example – both common symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
The debilitating disease affects around 153,000 people in the UK. There is currently no cure, but the disease can be treated with physical therapy and levodopa – a drug that improves coordination.
The device sends a patient's data back to their doctor, helping them see if symptoms are getting worse and suggesting alternative treatment if necessary.
It is expected that tracking movement data over time, rather than during medical exams that may only occur once a year, can help doctors make better decisions about patient care.
3D printers are being used to create life-size models of patients' livers to help Southampton surgeons tackle a deadly bile duct cancer that is notoriously difficult to treat.
Bile ducts are small tubes that connect the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. Cancer in this area of the body, called hilar cholangiocarcinoma, affects only 1-2 people in 100,000 in the UK each year, but the hard-to-reach location makes it difficult for surgeons to remove tumors.
That's why doctors have used the information from scans to create 3D models that allow them to see the tumor before surgery and thus decide whether surgery is safe or not.
Bile ducts are small tubes that connect the liver with the gallbladder and the small intestine (archive image)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new drug, Omjjara, to treat the symptoms of anemia in people with a rare blood cancer.
Four in 10 people with myelofibrosis – a form of bone marrow cancer – suffer from moderate to severe anemia, in which iron deficiency affects red blood cell levels, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.
Research shows that 25 percent of Omjjara patients had their symptoms reduced by half. The tablet works by blocking a protein that holds iron in the liver and prevents it from being absorbed through food.