Latest news with #SheffieldTeachingHospitalsNHSFoundationTrust
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Osteoarthritis study could lead to new treatments
More than 900 genetic links to osteoarthritis, including 500 which have never been reported, have been uncovered in a research study in Sheffield. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the "landmark" global study into osteoarthritis was the largest of its kind. The degenerative condition affects around 595 million people globally, and is the leading cause of disability and chronic pain worldwide, according to the hospital trust. The genome study used genetic information from nearly two million people, and was published in the journal Nature. Led by Helmholtz Munich, the largest scientific research organisation in Germany, genetic codes and DNA of almost half a million osteoarthritis sufferers globally - including 1,000 volunteers from Sheffield - were compared with that of 1.5 million people without the disease, the trust said. The team identified 962 genetic variations more commonly found in those with osteoarthritis; more than 500 of which had not previously been identified, it said. The number osteoarthritis sufferers was predicted to rise to a billion people by 2050 and despite the impact "no disease-modifying treatments are currently available", researchers said. However the new work "paves the way for potential new drug treatments and personalised therapies," they continued. Prof Mark Wilkinson, Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the trust and the University of Sheffield, said the findings were "hugely important" and would "open up exciting new avenues" for millions. "As well as identifying potential drug targets and opportunities for us to repurpose existing treatments that already target these genes in other conditions, this research has also significantly advanced our understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms associated with the disease," Prof Wilkinson said. Eight biological processes which regulate the body's internal systems and cell function were found, "shedding light on the disease's biological mechanisms", the trust said. Some of these genes contain proteins already targeted by drugs approved for other conditions, which could accelerate treatment development, it added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust NHS: Osteoarthritis Nature Exercise to treat arthritis, new advice suggests
BBC News
02-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
York muscle disorder patient joins worldwide drug trial
A woman with a rare muscle-weakening disorder has become one of the first patients in the world to take part in a trial of a potential treatment for the Clarke, 24, from York, was diagnosed aged 14 with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), which prevents her from standing for long periods and interferes with daily tasks. The study, run by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, involves the use of a drug which targets the gene thought to trigger muscle weakness in FSHD patients, potentially slowing the condition's progression. Ms Clarke said: "I feel very fortunate to have this chance." She said: "I'm trying not to get excited but there's a possibility this gene therapy could improve my condition."I'm slow to walk now. I struggle to wash my hair and put my hair up."There are things I can still do, but it's hard to go upstairs and there's a lot of overcompensation and funkier movements."When I go out to late-night bars people think I'm intoxicated because I walk funny." Sheffield is one of only two non-American centres in the world recruiting patients into the trial, according to the Channa Hewamadduma, principal investigator and lead neuromuscular consultant neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said the trial was another milestone in its research into "gene-silencing" Hewamadduma said: "Our neuromuscular team are delighted to be bringing this hugely exciting research to the UK for the benefit of patients in the north of England and beyond."We have established vital networks to attract several novel targeted gene-modifying therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases which are coming through the drug development pipeline."Up to 100 patients worldwide, who will be randomly assigned to receive either the drug or a placebo, are set to take part in the to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
