Breakthrough in fight against superbugs as scientists discover exactly how they build up resistance to antibiotics

Breakthrough in fight against superbugs as scientists discover exactly how they build up resistance to antibiotics

Vital clues revealing how 'superbugs' build up resistance to antibiotics have been discovered.

Scientists think they have solved a 25-year-old question about how a family of proteins allow bacteria to resist the effects of certain antibiotic drugs. 

It is hoped the discovery by scientists at the University of Leeds could pave the way for new drugs to be developed against superbugs like MRSA. 

The discovery is being hailed as a breakthrough in the race to contain the rise of so-called superbugs that kill about 10,000 Britons each year.

The findings, published in the journal mBio, provide the first direct evidence of how the family of proteins 'protect' the bacterial ribosome, the protein makers in cells, from being blocked by antibiotics.

Ordinarily, the ribosome is an ideal target for antibiotics because living bacteria can't grow without it, but when bacteria produce ABC-F proteins many antibiotics no longer work. 

Childhood cancer is bigger risk to fertility for boys: Just half who survive go on to become fathers compared with 70% of girls who fell pregnant

Childhood cancer is bigger risk to fertility for boys: Just half who survive go on to become fathers compared with 70% of girls who fell pregnant

Most girls who survive childhood cancer go on to become mothers, according to a major study.

But boys who undergo treatment will find their chances of becoming a father significantly reduced.

The findings suggest that modern forms of chemotherapy do not rob girls of the chance of having a child, as many drugs did in the past.

Researchers found that 70 per cent treated with chemotherapy go on to become pregnant before the age of 45, only slightly fewer than the 80 per cent of healthy women who conceive by the same age.

For men, however, the research is less encouraging. Only 50 per cent of boys treated with chemotherapy in childhood go on to make a partner pregnant, compared to 80 per cent of most men.

The findings, published yesterday in the Lancet Oncology medical journal, may lead to changes in the way child cancer patients are treated.

Experts said some invasive measures taken to preserve a child’s fertility may not be required in all patients – and should instead be targeted at those most at risk.

Around 4,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK. Medical advances mean that 80 per cent can expect to survive into adulthood.

But improved survival rates have led to a new focus on the far-reaching impacts of treatments. 

‘Black box’ addiction warnings for 175 prescription painkillers to stem 'epidemic of abuse and overdose'

‘Black box’ addiction warnings for 175 prescription painkillers to stem 'epidemic of abuse and overdose'

US health regulators will add their strongest warning labels to prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and Percocet, to stem the epidemic of opioid abuse.

The Food and Drug Administration revealed plans to add a 'black box' warning to all immediate-release prescription opioid painkillers - which includes nearly 175 branded and generic drugs.

Those medications are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US - accounting for 90 per cent of all opioid painkillers.

The FDA added similar warnings to long-acting drugs - such as OxyContin, which release their dosage slowly, over 12 hours or more - nearly three years ago. 

But now, both immediate and extended-release formulations will contain warnings that detail the risks of addiction, abuse, overdose and death.

The warning label changes come as US officials struggle to curb a surge in overdoses, which stem from the overprescribing of medications and readily available, inexpensive heroin.

Dr Robert Califf, commissioner of the FDA, told the Associated Press: 'We're at a time when the unfathomable tragedies resulting from addiction, overdose and death have become one of the most urgent and devastating public health crises facing our country.

'I can't stress enough how critical it is for prescribers to have the most current information.'  

We're eating less salt than ever but it's STILL too much: Adults are consuming a third more than the recommended teaspoon a day

We're eating less salt than ever but it's STILL too much: Adults are consuming a third more than the recommended teaspoon a day

For most of us, a sprinkle of salt makes many a meal more flavoursome.

But new research reveals we are still eating far too much of the seasoning.

Despite decreases in sodium intake, people are still eating a third more salt than the recommended daily amount, official figures show.

In 2014, adults in England consumed an average eight grams of salt every day, far above the six grams - around a teaspoon - recommended by experts.

Health chiefs to urge all adults to check food labels for salt content - and called for restaurants, cafes and takeaways to 'do more' to lower salt levels in our food.

The figures, from Public Health England (PHE), showed overall salt intake has fallen by 11 per cent since 2005/06.

However, health chiefs urged people to check food labels and use lower salt options - and said more needs to be done to reduce high salt levels in food from restaurants, cafes and takeaways.

Around 75 per cent of the salt in our diet comes from process foods such as breads, cereals, ready meals, soups, sauces and even sweet foods, according to Consensus Action on Salt Health (CASH).

Breakfast ISN'T the most important meal of the day: Skipping it or eating it 'won't make any difference to weight'

Breakfast ISN'T the most important meal of the day: Skipping it or eating it 'won't make any difference to weight'

It is a thought that may make you drop your hot-buttered toast and splutter into your coffee.

Claims that breakfast is the most important meal of the day have little scientific basis, a study suggests.

The NHS even champions the idea we should go to work on an egg, scoff porridge or as a weekend treat, tuck into a full English on its ‘Choices’ website.

But it seems it does not make much difference – and the idea that skipping breakfast makes you overeat later in the day isn't completely true, researchers say.

The idea the meal is inherently good for us may stem from marketing campaigns to sell us cornflakes, eggs and bacon, they argue.

The first meal of the day has been suggested to boost your metabolism, make you less likely to put on weight and give you more energy.

Dr James Betts, a senior lecturer in nutrition at the University of Bath, said that these benefits do not stand up to scrutiny.

‘The problem is that these benefits although logical sounding, are largely assumptions based on observational studies and had never actually been tested.

‘I was amazed when I started looking for evidence – I thought there would be a lot,’ he told New Scientist magazine.

Could cannabis help prevent prescription painkiller abuse? Medical marijuana 'reduces use of addictive opioid meds'

Could cannabis help prevent prescription painkiller abuse? Medical marijuana 'reduces use of addictive opioid meds' 

Medical marijuana reduces the use of prescription opioids in those patients battling chronic pain, experts revealed.

Patients using cannabis to control chronic pain reported a 64 per cent reduction in their use of traditional pain medications, a new study concluded.

The findings suggest that prescribing medical marijuana instead of painkillers, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, may help tackle the opioid epidemic that’s currently sweeping the US.

Deaths from misuse and abuse of prescription opioids reached 19,000 in 2014 - the highest figure on record, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Senior study author Dr Daniel Clauw, of the University of Michigan, said: ‘We are learning that the higher the dose of opioids people are taking, the higher the risk of death from overdose.

‘The magnitude of reduction in our study is significant enough to affect an individual’s risk of accidental death from overdose.’

The team of University of Michigan scientists surveyed 185 patients from a medical marijuana dispensary.

The surveys were conducted between November 2013 and February 2015.

The scientists originally sought to determine if cannabis use was more effective for sufferers of severe centralized chronic pain.

Hard work REALLY could kill you! Just ONE hour of overtime a week 'increases your risk of heart disease’

Hard work REALLY could kill you! Just ONE hour of overtime a week 'increases your risk of heart disease’

It is an all too common occurrence for many of us - clocking up extra hours at your desk each day.

But while the dedicated among us may not mind the longer working week, scientists have warned it may be damaging to a person's health. 

Working more than 45 hours each week, over the course of a decade, raises the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, experts from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston said.

And, the risk increases for every additional hour worked per week. 

Study author Dr Sadie Conway, an assistant professor of epidemiology, said: 'In general, we found that the risk of [cardiovascular disease] increased as the average weekly working hours increased, above a certain threshold.'

The team of scientists found that, among full-time workers, the risk of heart disease was lowest in those who worked between 40 and 45 hours each week.

The findings stem from an analysis of data on more than 1,900 participants in a long-term follow-up study of work and health. 

Each of the participants had been employed for at least 10 years. 

Scientists analyzed the relationship between work hours and cardiovascular disease in the participants.