Latest news with #QueenMaryUniversity
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Tool could help improve your fitness in just 30 minutes
An early trial suggests a small device that stimulates a major nerve connecting the heart and brain could help improve fitness. The device, clipped to the outer ear, sends gentle electrical pulses to increase the activity of the vagus nerve, which regulates heart function. Wearing the stimulator for just 30 minutes a day for a week increased oxygen intake during exercise by 4 per cent in healthy volunteers. The study, led by researchers at University College London and Queen Mary University of London, involved 28 healthy volunteers and was published in the European Heart Journal. While larger trials are needed, researchers hope the device could one day be used to improve fitness, reduce inflammation, and potentially aid people with heart conditions.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Urgent cervical cancer plea issued to women
More than 3,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, with approximately a third of eligible women overdue for screening. A study led by Queen Mary University of London and King's College London suggests that offering at-home self-tests for HPV could prevent up to 1,000 cervical cancer cases each year. The research, conducted across 13 GP practices in West London, found that 52 per cent of women accepted and returned a self-sampling kit when offered in-person at an appointment. Uptake was significantly lower for postal offers, at 12 per cent for kits and 5 per cent for letters offering a kit. Home-testing kits for HPV are set to be rolled out in England for those overdue for cervical cancer screening, providing an alternative to internal examinations.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Women unlikely to do DIY cancer tests unless told by GP
Women are unlikely to do DIY cervical cancer tests unless they are told to by a GP, a study suggests. From January next year, at-home kits will be offered to women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening. The tests look for the human papillomavirus (HPV), the infection which is linked to the majority of cases of cervical cancer. A new study examined the most effective ways women can be approached about performing the tests themselves at home. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and King's College London performed a study across 13 GP surgeries in west London. They found that under-screened women were more likely to take up the offer of a self-sample test if they were 'opportunistically' approached when they were visiting a GP for another reason. More work needed for tests to be returned Fewer tests were returned when under-screened women were sent a test in the post, or were sent a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit. Of 449 women opportunistically offered a self-sample kit, 333 (74 per cent) accepted the offer and 234 (52 per cent) returned a sample within six months. Meanwhile, 198 of the 1,616 women sent a kit in the post (12 per cent) and 76 of the 1,587 women sent a letter inviting them to order a kit (5 per cent) returned a self-sample within six months. 'We showed that the uptake of self-sampling was by far the highest among women who were opportunistically offered kits in primary care,' the researchers wrote in the journal eClinicalMedicine. But the researchers said that more work was needed to ensure women who took up the offer returned their sample. 'Substantial numbers accepted (an opportunistic offer) or ordered (sent a letter) a kit but did not return a sample and over a quarter of those whose self-sample was HPV positive did not follow through with a clinician sample,' the authors added. Suggestion of 'valuable' text or phone reminders They suggested that text or phone reminders 'could be valuable'. Professor Peter Sasieni, a senior researcher from Queen Mary University of London, said: 'Our study showed that offering a self-sample kit in person was the most effective method of encouraging women to complete their cervical cancer screening tests. But he said that a 'combination of approaches may be best for enabling more women to participate in cervical screening'. The NHS offers cervical screening tests, previously known as smear tests, to all women aged 25-64 every three years. But many people do not take up the offer, with a number citing a lack of time, discomfort or embarrassment.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Nerve simulator worn on ear is a ‘physical fitness boost'
Clipping a device to your ear for just half an hour a day could improve fitness, a study suggests. Wearing the stimulator that zaps a major nerve connecting the heart and brain increased oxygen intake during exercise, researchers found. They hope it could one day be used to help people who are not very active. The device sends gentle electrical pulses to increase the activity of the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in regulating heart function. The study, led by researchers at University College London and Queen Mary University of London, involved 28 healthy volunteers. Half were given the nerve stimulator to wear for 30 minutes every day for a week, while the other half were given a dummy device. Following a two-week break, the groups swapped devices. All of those taking part in the trial had an exercise test at the beginning and end of the week they wore the stimulator. The trial, published in the European Heart Journal, found those wearing the nerve stimulator were able to exercise more intensely than when wearing the dummy device. After a week, the stimulator increased oxygen intake during exercise by four per cent. It also boosted maximum breathing rate by an average of four breaths per minute, and maximum heart rate by four beats per minute during exercise. Gareth Ackland, a professor of perioperative medicine at Queen Mary University of London School of Medicine, said: 'Maintaining physical activity is essential for every aspect of cardiovascular, emotional, and cognitive health. 'The outcome of the trial is consistent with the significant body of evidence pointing to an important role of the brain in optimising exercise performance and regulating the activity of the immune system, helped by the vagus nerve'. Blood samples were also taken from five people, with researchers suggesting wearing the nerve stimulator for a week helped reduce inflammation. Prof Ackland added: 'We will need to carry out larger trials to confirm our findings, but the results of this study in healthy volunteers suggest that increasing vagus nerve activity can improve fitness and reduce inflammation, potentially offering new approaches to improve heart health.' Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said: 'This early study suggests that a simple technology, which harnesses the connection between the heart and the brain, can lead to improvements in fitness and exercise tolerance. 'While more research is needed involving people with cardiovascular disease, this could one day be used as a tool to improve wellbeing and quality of life for people with heart failure.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Zapping the brain with a tiny device on the ear could boost fitness without people having to lift a finger, study claims
A small device that zaps a major nerve connecting the heart and brain could one day help improve fitness for coach potatoes and people with heart failure, an early trial suggests. Wearing the stimulator for just 30 minutes a day increased oxygen intake during exercise by four per cent, according to researchers - who hope it could eventually be used to help more inactive people. The device, clipped to the outer ear, sends gentle electrical pulses to increase the activity of the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in regulating heart function. Led by researchers at University College London and Queen Mary University of London, the study involved 28 healthy volunteers. Half were given the nerve stimulator to wear for 30 minutes every day for a week, while the other half were given a dummy device. Following a two-week break, the groups swapped devices. All of those taking part in the trial had an exercise test at the beginning and end of the week they wore the stimulator. The trial, published in the European Heart Journal, found the 'dysfuntion' of the vagus nerve is 'strongly associated with impaired exercise tolerance'. Put simply: those wearing the nerve stimulator were able to exercise more intensely than when wearing the dummy device. After a week, the stimulator increased oxygen intake during exercise by 4%. It also boosted maximum breathing rate by an average of four breaths per minute, and maximum heart rate by four beats per minute during exercise. Gareth Ackland, a professor of perioperative medicine at Queen Mary University of London School of Medicine, said: 'Maintaining physical activity is essential for every aspect of cardiovascular, emotional, and cognitive health. 'The outcome of the trial is consistent with the significant body of evidence pointing to an important role of the brain in optimising exercise performance and regulating the activity of the immune system, helped by the vagus nerve'. Blood samples were also take from five people, with researchers suggesting wearing the nerve stimulator for a week helped reduce inflammation. Prof Ackland added: 'We will need to carry out larger trials to confirm our findings, but the results of this study in healthy volunteers suggest that increasing vagus nerve activity can improve fitness and reduce inflammation, potentially offering new approaches to improve heart health.' Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said: 'This early study suggests that a simple technology, which harnesses the connection between the heart and the brain, can lead to improvements in fitness and exercise tolerance. 'While more research is needed involving people with cardiovascular disease, this could one day be used as a tool to improve wellbeing and quality of life for people with heart failure.'
