Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
11 August 2017 08:25
Tiny gold particles could help treat cancer, researchers say
The precious metal, gold, is a familiar sight in jewellery adorning the body but it could also play a role in treating cancers that grow inside the body.
That's according to new research from a team at Edinburgh University, who say tiny flecks of gold could boost the effectiveness of drugs used to treat lung cancer cells.
Targeting tumours
During laboratory tests, scientists found minute fragments of gold, known as nanoparticles, enabled them to target tumours with greater precision.
These properties of gold were previously unknown, they say.
The findings have yet to be tested on humans, and researchers say "there is still work to do" before that can happen.
But experts hope it could eventually target chemotherapy directly into the tumour without surrounding healthy organs suffering any side effects from the drugs.
People who have gone through chemo can arrange specialist medical travel insurance.
What the experts say
Dr Asier Unciti-Broceta, from the University of Edinburgh's CRUK Edinburgh Centre, said: "We have discovered new properties of gold that were previously unknown and our findings suggest that the metal could be used to release drugs inside tumours very safely.
"There is still work to do before we can use this on patients, but this study is a step forward. We hope that a similar device in humans could one day be implanted by surgeons to activate chemotherapy directly in tumours and reduce harmful effects to healthy organs."
The study was funded by Cancer Research UK, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
20 October 2017
Women are more likely to have a successful natural birth while lay on their side rather than stood upright, a study of more than 3,000 first-time mothers has found.
[more...]
19 October 2017
The onset of winter and a reduction in daylight hours are leading experts to issue advice to sufferers of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
18 October 2017
Overweight patients should be referred to slimming groups by their GPs to ward off type 2 diabetes, new study findings suggest.
14 October 2017
Officials are hoping a new airport on the remote island of St Helena will boost tourism, after spending £285,000 of taxpayer money on the airport's development.
06 October 2017
Organ donation could soon be "opt out" following a consultation on "presumed consent", the Department of Health has confirmed.
17 October 2017
Almost 85,000 holidaymakers have been flown home as part of the large-scale repatriation scheme in the wake of Monarch's collapse.
13 October 2017
A top doctor is urging the Government to support GPs as they struggle with time and resources to tackle "chronic" loneliness in older people.
12 October 2017
Millions of pounds spent on junk food advertising is prompting NHS obesity costs to soar into the billions, a health coalition warns.
11 October 2017
An adventurer from Gloucester is planning on conquering a nationwide run across America - dressed as superhero Adventureman.
10 October 2017
Animals are successfully being used to treat Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at a Manchester hospital.
07 October 2017
Eating tropical fruit such as banana and avocado can ward off heart disease, a new study suggests.
05 October 2017
Just one hour of exercise each week can help keep depression at bay, a long-term study has found.