UK confirms case of bird flu in poultry in northern England
"All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled," a notice on the department's website said.
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The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Off-the-shelf vaccine shows promise in preventing cancers returning, study finds
An off-the-shelf vaccine has shown promise in preventing the return of pancreatic and colorectal cancer, researchers have revealed. Cancer vaccines have been the subject of promising research in recent years. The NHS in England has been trialling various jabs in patients through the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP). Such vaccines train the body's immune system to recognise cancer cells so any that return after treatments such as surgery can be hunted down and killed, reducing the risk of the disease coming back. Many cancer vaccines, including some of those based on mRNA technology, are personalised to the patient's tumours. However, a study has suggested a non-personalised, experimental vaccine that is already being made at scale could help prevent the return of pancreatic and colorectal cancer. If borne out by further trials, experts say, the approach could be beneficial since the vaccine is likely to be cheaper and faster to access than mRNA jabs, as well as less toxic than some other therapies. 'After a long-term follow-up of this study, we were able to demonstrate that the group of patients who mounted an immune response have a greater likelihood of not having their cancer return and living longer compared to historical expectation of what that patient would do,' said Prof Zev Wainberg, an oncologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a co-author of the study. The authors noted 90% of people with pancreatic cancer and 50% of those with colorectal cancer had mutations in the Kras gene. These mutations result in the production of altered Kras proteins that cause cells to divide and proliferate. Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, Wainberg and colleagues reported how they gave a vaccine called ELI-002 2P to 20 patients who had had surgery for pancreatic cancer and five who had been operated on for colorectal cancer. The vaccine contains peptides – long chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The vaccine works by training the T-cells of the body's immune system to recognise and kill cancer cells with mutations that result in them producing the altered Kras proteins. At a median follow-up of almost 20 months, the team found patients fell into two groups: 17 who had a strong immune response to the jab and eight who had a weaker response. The team found the former group experienced a longer period before their cancer returned and survived longer overall. Overall, four of those 17 patients died during follow-up, compared with seven of the eight who had a lower immune response. However, the study is early stage research designed primarily to assess safety, involved only 25 participants, had no controls, and looked at two very different types of cancer. Even so, experts said the results were worth noting. Siow Ming Lee, a professor of medical oncology at University College London, who was not involved with the work, suggested the ELI-002 2P vaccine could be combine with other kinds of immunotherapy, and might help a wider range of patients. 'With promising early results and potentially fewer side-effects than current oral inhibitors, this off-the-shelf cancer vaccine could expand treatment options for Kras-driven cancers and warrants further testing in larger trials, including exploring its potential use in lung cancers driven by mutations in Kras gene,' he said. Dr Shivan Sivakumar of the University of Birmingham, who works on mRNA-based pancreatic cancer vaccines, said it was fascinating so many of the patients in the study showed a clear immune response to the off-the-shelf vaccine. But Sivakumar noted that a key advantage of personalised mRNA vaccines was that they did not have to rely on mutations in the Kras gene. He said it was now important to carry out randomised control trials of the ELI-002 2P vaccine and follow patients over a longer period. 'How many times have we been down this garden path where we've got really excited about the science? But actually, ultimately, the real scientific experiment is in patients,' Sivakumar added.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
What does the data tell us about road traffic accidents in the UK?
Under "tougher" plans to tackle road deaths and injuries in England and Wales, the government has announced measures to make over-70s take compulsory eye tests every three years or lose their driving licence. But are they really needed? Motorists over the age of 70 already self-report their medical fitness to drive every three years, and British roads are safer now than they've ever been. In 2023, the latest year for which the Department for Transport has published data, the casualty rate on British roads fell to 398 per billion vehicle miles. It's the first time that figure has been under 400, and has halved since just 2006. In 1960, the casualty rate was 10 times higher than it is now. The total number of people killed on the UK's roads also reached a record low in 2023, other than the COVID-affected years of 2020 and 2021. There were 1,624 people killed in total, just under half of which were in cars. This figure has plateaued somewhat since 2010, however, after rapid improvements between 2006 and 2010. There was a similar plateau between 1994 and 2006 before the last significant piece of road safety legislation was introduced. The 2006 Road Safety Act introduced higher fines and more points for the most severe speeding offences, as well as vastly expanding the use of speed awareness courses. It was also the first year that people could get points on their licence for using their phone. In the four years that followed, there was a 40% decrease in deaths among road users. In the 13 years since then, it's fallen just 12%. There had been a slight rise in deaths among older drivers for a few years between 2014 and 2019, but that has started to fall again now. There are now fewer deaths among over-70s compared with either the under-30s, people aged 30-49, or those between 50 and 69. In 2019, there were a similar number of deaths among people of each of these age cohorts. Academic studies have previously found that older people are also more likely to develop symptoms of depression, be admitted to care facilities, and even have a higher mortality rate, once they stop driving. The academics found that those links remained even after adjusting for other factors like baseline health and cognitive ability. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "It is certainly good for our eye health as we age to have a regular eye test - every two years the NHS advises - but this doesn't automatically mean that a compulsory eye test at age 70 is appropriate. People can develop eye problems at any age so why confine such an approach only to those aged 70 and not to younger drivers too? "From the data we have seen, there is no reason to suppose that eye problems lie behind a significant proportion of accidents. While there may be a case for introducing a regular mandatory eye test for drivers of all ages, it is not clear that this would have a big impact on the numbers of serious accidents involving older drivers." Are younger drivers a danger to themselves? Edmund King, president of the Automobile Association, said that the government's strategy is "much overdue", while pointing to the figures showing that the number of road deaths have plateaued since 2010. He said that making vision checks compulsory for older drivers was a "practical step that can make a real difference", but added that failing to introduce a six-month limit on new drivers transporting passengers of a similar age is "a major oversight". A limit like this has been active in parts of Australia since 2007. Research by road safety charity Brake says that, in the UK, around one in five drivers crash within a year of passing their test. The Department for Transport data also shows that younger people are also significantly more likely to die as passengers compared to people in other age groups. There has also been a suggestion that younger drivers are more likely to die as a result of not wearing seatbelts. More than a third of 17-29-year-olds who die on the roads didn't have their seatbelts on. But the same is true of 30-59 year olds. There is a significant difference between men and women however - 31% of men who died did so without wearing a seatbelt, compared with just 11% of women. That also means that 89% of women who died on the roads did so despite wearing a seatbelt, perhaps adding to evidence that suggests that seatbelts offer better protection to adult men. Drink-driving Since 2014, Scotland has had a lower drink-drive limit than the rest of the UK. The government's new proposals would reduce the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to the same level as in Scotland - 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, instead of the current level of 80mg of alcohol. For an average-sized man, that means they would be over the limit after one pint of beer, instead of after two. In diverging from the other nations in the UK, the new standards in Scotland aligned with most of Europe. It seems to have had some impact. The number of collisions involving drink drivers has fallen by more than 40% in Scotland since it was introduced, compared with 20% in England over the same time period, and 38% in Wales. The improvement is less pronounced when it comes to the most serious drink-driving road accidents, though. They are down just 7% since 2014. Where are the safest, and most dangerous, places to drive? The Isle of Wight has the highest current fatality rate, after accounting for how much driving people do. There were 18 deaths per billion vehicle miles on the island in 2023. Next was Blackpool, with 16. The central London boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Lambeth were the only other local authorities with a rate higher than 10. At the other end of the scale, Stockport (Greater Manchester), Thurrock (Essex) and Nottingham each had fewer than one death per billion vehicle miles. When it comes to accidents that included not just deaths but also serious injuries, London has the worst record. Drivers in Westminster were most likely to end up in a serious collision, but the nine most dangerous local authorities in Great Britain were all London boroughs. Bradford completed the bottom 10. Bath and North East Somerset was the safest area, although three Welsh areas - Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff - joined South Gloucestershire in the top five. Scottish drivers were among the most likely to avoid being in crashes altogether. Eight of the 10 local authorities with the lowest overall collision rate were north of the border, although Rutland in the East Midlands had the lowest overall rate. The top 20 areas with the most collisions per mile driven were all in London. How does driving in the UK compare with other countries? The UK is one of the safest places to drive in Europe. Only Norway and Sweden had a lower rate of road deaths per head of population in 2023 than the UK's 25 deaths per million people. The figures in places like Italy, Greece and Portugal were more than twice as high. There aren't any directly comparable figures for 2023 for the US, but in 2022 their death rate from driving was five times as high as the UK, and 50% higher than the worst performing European country - Bulgaria. The Data and Forensics
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The secret to living to 100: Lifestyle habits from the world's 'Blue Zones' - where people are TEN TIMES more likely to reach a century
It's one of the wealthiest countries in the world – with one of the best healthcare systems. But experts say Britain is lagging by one crucial metric: life expectancy. In so-called 'Blue Zones' – areas of the world with the lowest rates of chronic disease – residents are more than 10 times more likely to live to 100 than in some deprived parts of the UK. These regions – dotted across the globe – are home to the healthiest people in the world, and the oldest. For decades, scientists have been fascinated by what makes the populations of Blue Zones so happy, mobile and free of chronic disease. A popular docuseries on Netflix explored five such zones in 2023. Titled Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, the series saw longevity expert Dan Buettner explore the lifestyle habits of locals in Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Nicoya, Costa Rica, Ikaria, Greece and Loma Linda, California. Though geographically disparate, Mr Buettner found, people living in these areas followed the same nine simple habits – dubbed the Power 9. Including regular exercise, intermittent fasting and focusing on family life, these lifestyle practices helped residents live longer, happier lives, the docuseries concluded. People live about eight years longer with no discernible dementia in Ikaria an island in Greece (pictured left). Men in Sardinia (pictured right) are statistically living the longest in the world And a pioneering new study from researchers in Sweden revealed a further 'superhuman' ability that all people who live to 100 appear to share. Centenarians have the remarkable capacity to avoid major illnesses – or accumulate them more slowly – the scientists found, despite living for far longer than their peers. The findings challenge the widely held belief that a longer life inevitably comes with more years of poor health. So, what are the secrets of living to how can YOU raise your life expectancy? Diet A major driver of longevity in blue zones is diet. Residents tend to favour plant-based foods, and only eat meat five times per month, says Mr Buettner. Instead, diets in the Blue Zone tend to be rich in vegetables, legumes - like beans, peas and lentils, whole grains and nuts. Sardinia, one of the five core 'Blue Zones', breaks a key ageing stereotype by having an equal number of male and female centenarians, which contrasts with global trends where five female centenarians exist for every one male centenarian. The Sardinian diet generally consists of healthy wholegrains, beans, garden vegetables, fruits and olive oils, but locals also incorporate 'wild greens' into their diet. This rather unique plant is known as amaranth – and is a great source of calcium, magnesium and potassium, as well as vitamin K, all essential minerals for bone health and muscle function. In Seulo, a tiny town in the centre of Sardinia, with a population of fewer than 1,000, residents follow the aforementioned Sardinian diet, with another extra special ingredient that might just be the key to their longevity. 'When locals couldn't easily access animal protein, they decided to plant more than 400 walnut trees in public spaces,' longevity expert Marcus Pearce told the Daily Mail. Walnuts, often described as a 'brain food', have many health benefits. Omega-3s and antioxidants in walnuts help lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation to help decrease heart disease risk, while their vitamin E and polyphenols support cognitive function and may protect against neurodegenerative disease. They are also known to support beneficial gut bacteria, which is linked to improved immunity and reduced inflammation. As well as snacking on walnuts, Seulo locals often incorporate them into meals such as salads or when baking biscuits and cakes. Low consumption of meat also plays a role in the longevity of Blue Zone residents. Studies have repeatedly shown that regularly eating red meat and processed meat can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. Too much salt, on the other hand, can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Fasting And it's not just a healthy diet. Many in Blue Zone areas adhere to the 80 percent rule, whereby they stop eating when they are 80 percent full. This prevents overeating and, in turn, obesity. Studies in Okinawa, Japan suggest that before the 1960s, most residents were in a calorie deficit – eating fewer calories than they required – which experts believe could be contributing to their impressive longevity. Okinawans also tend to follow the 80 per cent rule, which they call 'hara hachi bu'. The practice is deeply rooted in Okinawan culture as a principle of mindful eating – encouraging people to stop when they feel comfortably full rather than completely stuffed, and preventing them from overeating. The average daily intake of an Okinawan is only about 1,900 calories, significantly less than the average number of calories consumed by a typical Brit. Blue Zone residents also tend to eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and then fast for the rest of the day. Exercise In Sardinia, a largely vegetarian diet, alongside daily physical activity, has led to the region having the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world. Sheep herders in the area, who tend to walk at least five miles a day, as well as men with daughters, live even longer than most. Loma Linda, California, was chosen for the Live to 100 docuseries because it is home to the highest concentration of Seven Day Adventists – a community who live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts. The town was adopted at the turn of the 20th century by the health-focused founded of the evangelical Christian sect, after they purchased property in the area. And their strict guidelines about food, exercise and rest have been passed down – with residents gaining notoriety today for their high levels of exercise, including walking fast and going to the gym. While Britons tend to focus on strict exercise routines and structured gym workouts, elders in the Blue Zones don't put too much pressure on themselves. They remain active in other ways, such as tending to their garden, going for walks or doing chores. Family Focusing on family and relationships, as well as having a strong social circle that values healthy living, is a crucial part of living to 100, experts have found. Strong family connections are deeply embedded in the culture in both Italy and Greece; multi-generational households are common, as is living close to family members. People in blue zones also put their loved ones first, have some sort of belief system and form social circles that support their healthy behavior patterns. Mr Buettner attests that maintaining healthy relationships with family, friends and people of faith can extend lifespans. Studies have shown that multi-generational households where grandparents look after their grandchildren have a higher chance of living longer. And other research has found that maintaining social connections more generally in mid-to-late life can reduce the likelihood of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia by as much as 50 per cent. Purpose Having a purpose in life, or a reason to get up in the morning, can be worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy, Mr Buettner claims. In Okinawa, this is known as 'ikigai' – referring to finding a sense of joy in one's activities – while in Nicoya, residents refer to it as 'plan de vida'. Both roughly translate to the same thing, says Mr Buettner – a reason to wake up in the morning. Having this life-purpose is associated with a reduced risk of death, possibly through psychological wellbeing. Blue Zoners' relaxing routines also help to combat any stress, which is known to cause chronic inflammation and is linked to every major age-related disease. Seven Day Adventists in California pray, while other blue zone groups around the world take naps. Sardinians partake in a happy hour, where they gather with friends and family at the end of the day to connect over a glass of wine.
