Show Notes
We investigate how self-injecting is leading to people being hospitalised and is creating new challenges for support services. Laura Foster meets NHS endocrinologist Dr Bonnie Grant, criminologist at the University of Lincoln Dr Luke Turnock and Jon Findlay, Harm Reduction Lead at Waythrough. They discuss the problems they are seeing from self-injecting on hospital wards, at needle exchanges and talked about in online discussions. Also this week, scientists have identified a protein that provides one of the strongest clues yet as to why two conditions that are major causes of stillbirth and severe health risks for pregnant mothers occur. It could be a breakthrough for predicting pre-eclampsia and foetal growth restriction and Laura talks to Dr Gordon Smith, head of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cambridge University, about how they identified a little known protein and how the discovery could help millions of women every year. And there has been a lot of headlines around the idea that making medicines in space could improve cancer treatment. British company BioOrbit has just had a mini drugs factory return back from manufacturing crystrals for cancer antibody treatments on the International Space Station. We'll be asking whether this could be something that becomes part of day to day medicine in the not-too-distant future. Presenter: Laura Foster Producer: Tom Bonnett Editor: Martin Smith Sound engineer: Tim Heffer Production coordinator: Stu Laws The show was made by the BBC’s Audio Science Unit in collaboration with The Open University.
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We investigate the growing business of full-body MRI scans. The clinics argue they can spot diseases and problems early before people feel unwell - but critics say it’s a waste of thousands of pounds and creates unnecessary anxiety about things that may never become a problem. Laura visits a clinic to learn more and also hears about the risks. Also this week, new research shows strokes are increasing among black African and black Caribbean people in the UK at a faster rate in than in white people - and it’s mainly being driven by high blood pressure. Laura meets Dr Iain Marshall, a GP who researches stroke risk factors, and Sheila Chingono, who had a stroke aged 32, to talk about why this is happening and what can be done to prevent it. And most of us hear the phrase ‘emergency food stockpile’ and think of a sad-looking kitchen cupboard full of tins we’d rather not eat. Laura speaks to a nutritional scientist about how you can still have a healthy and tasty meal with non-perishable goods, even if you’ve got no running water or way of cooking food. And crucially she learns that it doesn’t involve giving up biscuits... Presenter: Laura Foster Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Ilan Goodman Sound engineer: Mary Stone Production coordinator: Stu Laws The show was made by the BBC’s Audio Science Unit in collaboration with The Open University.
Right now, research is gathering pace in revolutionising our understanding of inflammation, which could transform the treatment of so many chronic diseases - cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, depression, type 2 diabetes and many more. So, what is inflammation, how is it implicated in these diseases and can we do anything about it? Immunologist Professor Eleanor Riley at the University of Edinburgh explains what inflammation actually is and how chronic inflammation can get stuck in a self-perpetuating loop.
Insulin has been used to treat type 1 diabetes for more than a century but now there is a new treatment being rolled out on the NHS that can delay the onset of the disease for years. Alongside, screening is gathering pace, identifying those that could benefit. So, is this the beginning of a new era for type 1 diabetes treatment? Dima and his mum Elena explain what it was like to be told that he had tested positive for developing type 1 diabetes and what it was like taking part in the trial for this new drug, teplizumab. Parth Narendran, a Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Birmingham, and Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist Dr Renuka Dias at Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, reveal how these changes are transforming treatment. In July, the NHS announced plans to incentivise us to walk a marathon a month by offering vouchers and discounts. But with scant detail on how the plan will actually work, we ask Joan Costa-i-Font, Professor of Health Economics at London School of Economics, what makes schemes like this succeed or fail. Plus, why are horse fly bites so painful? Dr Erica McAlister, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum, explains how the flies break into our skin, while consultant dermatologist Dr Alexandra Banner describes what’s happening in our bodies. Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Hannah Robins
More than six years since the start of the Covid pandemic, it might feel like we're pretty over it, yet that's simply not the case for the millions of people who suffer from long Covid. But could there be hope on the horizon? A new clinical trial led by University College London and University College London Hospitals found that over-the-counter antihistamines and a prescription anti-inflammatory drug called colchicine offered a small reduction in fatigue for people with long Covid. But it's still not a cure. Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, joins us to discuss this new research and the problems with understanding long Covid. He also tells us about some of the upcoming studies that might help us better get a handle on the condition. Also this week, did you know that around one in 335 people in the UK are living with a stoma? Yet according to Colostomy UK, more than 60 per cent of those with a stoma say a lack of suitable toilet facilities affects their daily lives. Thanks to a campaign that started in Bristol, B&Q has now made the disabled toilets across its stores stoma-friendly. We pay a visit to B&Q with The Traitors' Mollie Pearce, who has been living with a stoma since she was 18, and colorectal surgeon Ms Caroline Burt from Bristol Foundation Trust to find out more. Finally, many of us have been guzzling ice cream to cool off during the hot weather. But have you seen the social media claims that the frozen treat can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes? We asked nutritional scientist Dr Sarah Berry from King's College London to give us the scoop on the 'ice cream paradox'. Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell Production coordinator: Stu Laws Editor: Ilan Goodman
We’ve had two heatwaves already this summer with warnings that even young and healthy people should rethink their fitness routines in the heat. So how can we keep exercising when it’s so hot you barely want to move? James chats with physiologist Damian Bailey from the University of South Wales. Next, James is at Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield to meet Calli Hauger-Thackery who made headlines for running the Boston marathon while 22 weeks pregnant and physiotherapist Ros Cooke to find out what changes in the body during pregnancy - and see what exercise is safe. So we’ve worked up a sweat… but what’s the best way to recover? We’re in the lab at the University of Westminster to put electrolytes to the test with Dr Lewis Mattin and we cool off with Ros Cooke while chatting about active recovery versus total rest. Presenter: James Gallagher Special appearance: Hannah Fisher Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Ilan Goodman Production coordinator: Stu Laws