Medicine
The secret life of sperm is unlocked
Infertile couples may be spared years of fruitless treatment with the discovery that the human egg can read the father’s genetic key and screen out failures
Thousands of infertile couples could be spared the pain, anguish and expense of fruitless IVF treatments, thanks to the discovery of a lock-and-key mechanism between sperm and egg cells.
The research could explain why so many couples with no apparent reproductive problems are unable to conceive. Although more than 40,000 in vitro fertilisation cycles are prescribed in Britain each year, only 10,000 births result. Keep reading this article »
Fantastic voyage: new-generation imaging heralds revolution in medical treatment
From a cluster of Chiltern villages, GE Healthcare is leading the way in detecting and treating diseases
For the lucky, a check-up at the GP consists of nothing more sophisticated than a blood-pressure cuff, an icy stethoscope and a jar to pee in. For those with bigger problems, it can involve medicine’s heavy artillery, from bedside ultra-sound devices to giant metal doughnuts that generate magnetic fields several times stronger than the Earth’s. Keep reading this article »
Aegate steals a march in war against counterfeit drugs
Aegate, the drug authentication business, will move into Ireland in January, strengthening its position ahead of expected EU legislation to fight the growing threat of counterfeit drugs. Keep reading this article »
Millions at risk from fake medicines smuggled into UK
Packets of fake pills are being smuggled into high-street chemists and sold as real medicines that prevent heart attacks or fight cancer, putting the lives of millions of British patients at risk. Keep reading this article »
The beating heart of the hi-tech world in hospitals
The computerisation of the NHS is not on its sickbed – it’s alive and kicking, explains the boss of GE Healthcare
Nigel Mason is apologetic when he arrives at GE’s British head office in Berkeley Square, central London. This isn’t his building, explains the boss of GE Healthcare UK as we wait for security to sign him in. Once his visitor’s badge has been clipped to his jacket, we’re ushered into G4, an ultra-modern but poky little room. By then, though, he’s done saying sorry. And by the time we get to the subject of the much-criticised NHS computerisation project, he’s bridling a bit at the very suggestion that he should be on the defensive.
“I’m proud of our role,” he insists. “It’s a positive story.” Keep reading this article »
Inbreeding ‘causing rise in birth defects’
Inbreeding in Britain’s Pakistani community is causing a surge in birth defects, environment minister Phil Woolas warned last night. Mr Woolas described the issue as “the elephant in the room” – too sensitive for anyone to mention. Keep reading this article »
