Moms-to-be could cut their children’s risk of becoming obese by half by taking a mix of common vitamins.
One study found that children of mothers who drank a powdered drink containing probiotics, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and D were half as likely to be obese at the age of two as those whose mothers took a standard supplement during pregnancy.
Study co-author Associate Professor Shiao Yng Chan of the National University of Singapore said: “These early events can influence how the child reacts to an unhealthy lifestyle.”
One study found that children of mothers who drank a powdered drink containing probiotics, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and D were half as likely to be obese by the age of two (file image)
Gadget that detects Parkinson’s deterioration
Devices that can track Parkinson’s symptoms in real time are now available on the NHS.
Motion sensors, typically worn on the wrist, can measure things like stiffness and involuntary tremors, both common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The debilitating disease affects around 153,000 people in the UK. There is currently no cure, although it can be treated with physical therapy and levodopa, a medication that helps coordination.
The device sends the patient’s data to their doctor, helping them see if symptoms are worsening and, if necessary, suggest a different treatment.
Tracking movement data over time instead of medical check-ups, which can be done only once a year, is expected to 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.
The 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 or 2 people per 100,000 a year in the UK, but the difficult-to-reach location makes it difficult for surgeons to remove the tumours.
Therefore, doctors have been using the information from the scans to create 3D models that allow them to see the tumor before surgery so they can decide whether or not it is safe to operate.
The bile ducts are small tubes that connect the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine (file image)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new medicine, Omjjara, to treat the symptoms of anemia in people with a rare blood cancer.
Four in ten people with myelofibrosis (a type of bone marrow cancer) suffer from moderate to severe anemia, in which a lack of iron affects the level of red blood cells, causing fatigue and shortness of breath.
Research shows that 25 percent of patients taking Omjjara saw their symptoms reduced by half. The tablet works by blocking a protein that keeps iron in the liver and prevents it from being absorbed through food.