Latest news with #UniversityCollegeLondonHospitals
Gulf Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
How many children Johnson has still remains unclear
Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson have welcomed their fourth child together, daughter Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson. Mrs Johnson told her Instagram followers the news with a video posted on Saturday (24 May), revealing that Poppy had been born three days ago. 'I can't believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky,' she said. We are all totally smitten. Not sure I've slept a minute since you were born as can't stop looking at how completely lovely you are.' Mrs Johnson continued to thank the maternity team at University College London Hospitals, in particular 'Asma and Patrick', who 'have looked after me so well through all my pregnancies. I really cannot thank you guys enough.' In 2023, the Johnsons announced the birth of their third child, a son named Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson. Carrie again shared the news on Instagram, where she revealed that she'd given birth on 5 July 2023 at 9.15am and shared several photos of the newborn. In the caption of the photo, the former political activist revealed the name the couple had chosen, while joking about the middle name her husband picked out for their newborn son. She wrote: 'A week of Frankie. Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5 July at 9.15am. (Can you guess which name my husband chose?!) She first revealed the news that they were expecting their third child by writing on Instagram: 'New team member arriving in just a few weeks. I've felt pretty exhausted for much of the last eight months but we can't wait to meet this little one.' Boris Johnson was previously leader of the Conservative Party and won the general election as leader in December 2019. While he dealt with Brexit and the pandemic during his tenure, there were several developments in her personal life too, including marrying Carrie Johnson (nee Symonds ) and having two children together. In December 2021, Boris Johnson and Carrie welcomed their second child. They announced the birth of a 'healthy baby girl' at a London hospital on 9 December and later revealed that they named her Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson. A spokesperson for the couple said at the time: 'Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.' In July 2021, following the pregnancy announcement, Carrie revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage earlier in the year, and felt 'incredibly blessed to be pregnant again'. Opening up about her miscarriage, Carrie said she had found comfort in speaking to others who had also experienced a similar loss. 'Fertility issues can be really hard for many people, particularly when on platforms like Instagram it can look like everything is only ever going well.' 'I found it a real comfort to hear from people who had also experienced loss so I hope that in some very small way sharing this might help others too,' she said. The couple were engaged in late 2019 and welcomed their first child, a son named Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, in April 2020. They married in an intimate wedding ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in May 2021. While the baby girl was Carrie's second child, Boris is more familiar with the experience of parenthood. During his resignation speech, Boris thanked Carrie and 'all of my children'. However the exact number of offspring the former prime minister has remains unclear. It is believed that the former prime minister has nine children, however, he has not officially confirmed the exact number. What is known is that Boris and his second wife, Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together: Lara Lettice, 27, Milo Arthur, 25, Cassia Peaches, 23, and Theodore Apollo, also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, who was fathered as a result of an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre. The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009. The Independent
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Simple blood test could offer hope to patients with treatment-resistant lupus
Previous studies have shown patients with treatment-resistant lupus who are positive for the biomarker are 17 times more likely to respond to the drugs, which are available on the NHS but not currently used together. As part of a £1.7 million trial – known as Stratify Lupus – experts will test the blood of people with lupus that has not responded to conventional therapies such as steroids or immune suppressants. If they are shown to have the biomarker, researchers will give them either the combination therapy or placebo. Michael Ehrenstein, consultant rheumatologist at University College London Hospitals and professor of experimental rheumatology at University College London (UCL), is leading the research. He said: 'If the results are positive then we would apply to allow patients who are positive for the biomarker to receive the combination therapy on the NHS. 'Targeting the patients most likely to benefit from this treatment should make it deliverable on the NHS and improve patient access and outcomes.' The study will begin in spring 2026 at 16 hospitals across the UK and is expected to finish in 2029. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. Prof Ehrenstein's previous research found a combination of the drugs rituximab and belimumab was able to bring lupus under control, and significantly reduce severe flare-ups in some, but not all, patients. Both drugs are treatment options for lupus patients, but are not used in combination. They are targeted therapies known as monoclonal antibodies. These are lab-produced identical copies of a single type of antibody, which are the proteins produced by the immune system to attack the likes of bacteria and viruses. Prof Ehrenstein's team identified a biomarker in the blood of about half of lupus patients who were resistant to conventional treatment. Known as IgA2 anti-dsDNA, those with the biomarker were 17 times more likely to respond to a combination of rituximab and belimumab compared to rituximab alone. It is estimated that up to 69,000 people in the UK have lupus, which mostly affects women and those of African, Caribbean and Asian descent. It can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including joint pain, skin problems, fatigue and inflammation of major organs. People often take drugs for life, ranging from steroid tablets and injections, or other immunosuppressant or biological medicines. Prof Ehrenstein added: 'To have a positive result in a personalised medicine trial for lupus would be globally significant, not only for the biomarker and treatment combination, but also the success of this targeted approach. 'Everyone talks about personalised medicine, but so far this goal has not been achieved in inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 'Stratify Lupus will be the first biomarker enrichment trial for lupus, which is a real coup for UK research.' The study is being funded by the charity Versus Arthritis and the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Professor Lucy Donaldson, director of research at Versus Arthritis, said: 'This major trial holds real promise of a better future for those living with lupus, which particularly affects underserved people. 'Too few advances have been made in tackling the devastating disease which mainly affects women, in particular women of African and Caribbean heritage, in the prime of their lives.'
South Wales Guardian
09-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Simple blood test could offer hope to patients with treatment-resistant lupus
It is hoped the test, which looks for certain biomarkers in the blood, could help these patients get access to a combination therapy on the health service in the future. Previous studies have shown patients with treatment-resistant lupus who are positive for the biomarker are 17 times more likely to respond to the drugs, which are available on the NHS but not currently used together. As part of a £1.7 million trial – known as Stratify Lupus – experts will test the blood of people with lupus that has not responded to conventional therapies such as steroids or immune suppressants. If they are shown to have the biomarker, researchers will give them either the combination therapy or placebo. Michael Ehrenstein, consultant rheumatologist at University College London Hospitals and professor of experimental rheumatology at University College London (UCL), is leading the research. He said: 'If the results are positive then we would apply to allow patients who are positive for the biomarker to receive the combination therapy on the NHS. 'Targeting the patients most likely to benefit from this treatment should make it deliverable on the NHS and improve patient access and outcomes.' The study will begin in spring 2026 at 16 hospitals across the UK and is expected to finish in 2029. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. Prof Ehrenstein's previous research found a combination of the drugs rituximab and belimumab was able to bring lupus under control, and significantly reduce severe flare-ups in some, but not all, patients. Both drugs are treatment options for lupus patients, but are not used in combination. They are targeted therapies known as monoclonal antibodies. These are lab-produced identical copies of a single type of antibody, which are the proteins produced by the immune system to attack the likes of bacteria and viruses. Prof Ehrenstein's team identified a biomarker in the blood of about half of lupus patients who were resistant to conventional treatment. Known as IgA2 anti-dsDNA, those with the biomarker were 17 times more likely to respond to a combination of rituximab and belimumab compared to rituximab alone. It is estimated that up to 69,000 people in the UK have lupus, which mostly affects women and those of African, Caribbean and Asian descent. It can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including joint pain, skin problems, fatigue and inflammation of major organs. People often take drugs for life, ranging from steroid tablets and injections, or other immunosuppressant or biological medicines. Prof Ehrenstein added: 'To have a positive result in a personalised medicine trial for lupus would be globally significant, not only for the biomarker and treatment combination, but also the success of this targeted approach. 'Everyone talks about personalised medicine, but so far this goal has not been achieved in inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 'Stratify Lupus will be the first biomarker enrichment trial for lupus, which is a real coup for UK research.' The study is being funded by the charity Versus Arthritis and the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Professor Lucy Donaldson, director of research at Versus Arthritis, said: 'This major trial holds real promise of a better future for those living with lupus, which particularly affects underserved people. 'Too few advances have been made in tackling the devastating disease which mainly affects women, in particular women of African and Caribbean heritage, in the prime of their lives.'
Leader Live
09-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Simple blood test could offer hope to patients with treatment-resistant lupus
It is hoped the test, which looks for certain biomarkers in the blood, could help these patients get access to a combination therapy on the health service in the future. Previous studies have shown patients with treatment-resistant lupus who are positive for the biomarker are 17 times more likely to respond to the drugs, which are available on the NHS but not currently used together. As part of a £1.7 million trial – known as Stratify Lupus – experts will test the blood of people with lupus that has not responded to conventional therapies such as steroids or immune suppressants. If they are shown to have the biomarker, researchers will give them either the combination therapy or placebo. Michael Ehrenstein, consultant rheumatologist at University College London Hospitals and professor of experimental rheumatology at University College London (UCL), is leading the research. He said: 'If the results are positive then we would apply to allow patients who are positive for the biomarker to receive the combination therapy on the NHS. 'Targeting the patients most likely to benefit from this treatment should make it deliverable on the NHS and improve patient access and outcomes.' The study will begin in spring 2026 at 16 hospitals across the UK and is expected to finish in 2029. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. Prof Ehrenstein's previous research found a combination of the drugs rituximab and belimumab was able to bring lupus under control, and significantly reduce severe flare-ups in some, but not all, patients. Both drugs are treatment options for lupus patients, but are not used in combination. They are targeted therapies known as monoclonal antibodies. These are lab-produced identical copies of a single type of antibody, which are the proteins produced by the immune system to attack the likes of bacteria and viruses. Prof Ehrenstein's team identified a biomarker in the blood of about half of lupus patients who were resistant to conventional treatment. Known as IgA2 anti-dsDNA, those with the biomarker were 17 times more likely to respond to a combination of rituximab and belimumab compared to rituximab alone. It is estimated that up to 69,000 people in the UK have lupus, which mostly affects women and those of African, Caribbean and Asian descent. It can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including joint pain, skin problems, fatigue and inflammation of major organs. People often take drugs for life, ranging from steroid tablets and injections, or other immunosuppressant or biological medicines. Prof Ehrenstein added: 'To have a positive result in a personalised medicine trial for lupus would be globally significant, not only for the biomarker and treatment combination, but also the success of this targeted approach. 'Everyone talks about personalised medicine, but so far this goal has not been achieved in inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 'Stratify Lupus will be the first biomarker enrichment trial for lupus, which is a real coup for UK research.' The study is being funded by the charity Versus Arthritis and the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Professor Lucy Donaldson, director of research at Versus Arthritis, said: 'This major trial holds real promise of a better future for those living with lupus, which particularly affects underserved people. 'Too few advances have been made in tackling the devastating disease which mainly affects women, in particular women of African and Caribbean heritage, in the prime of their lives.'
North Wales Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Simple blood test could offer hope to patients with treatment-resistant lupus
It is hoped the test, which looks for certain biomarkers in the blood, could help these patients get access to a combination therapy on the health service in the future. Previous studies have shown patients with treatment-resistant lupus who are positive for the biomarker are 17 times more likely to respond to the drugs, which are available on the NHS but not currently used together. As part of a £1.7 million trial – known as Stratify Lupus – experts will test the blood of people with lupus that has not responded to conventional therapies such as steroids or immune suppressants. If they are shown to have the biomarker, researchers will give them either the combination therapy or placebo. Michael Ehrenstein, consultant rheumatologist at University College London Hospitals and professor of experimental rheumatology at University College London (UCL), is leading the research. He said: 'If the results are positive then we would apply to allow patients who are positive for the biomarker to receive the combination therapy on the NHS. 'Targeting the patients most likely to benefit from this treatment should make it deliverable on the NHS and improve patient access and outcomes.' The study will begin in spring 2026 at 16 hospitals across the UK and is expected to finish in 2029. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. Prof Ehrenstein's previous research found a combination of the drugs rituximab and belimumab was able to bring lupus under control, and significantly reduce severe flare-ups in some, but not all, patients. Both drugs are treatment options for lupus patients, but are not used in combination. They are targeted therapies known as monoclonal antibodies. These are lab-produced identical copies of a single type of antibody, which are the proteins produced by the immune system to attack the likes of bacteria and viruses. Prof Ehrenstein's team identified a biomarker in the blood of about half of lupus patients who were resistant to conventional treatment. Known as IgA2 anti-dsDNA, those with the biomarker were 17 times more likely to respond to a combination of rituximab and belimumab compared to rituximab alone. It is estimated that up to 69,000 people in the UK have lupus, which mostly affects women and those of African, Caribbean and Asian descent. It can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including joint pain, skin problems, fatigue and inflammation of major organs. People often take drugs for life, ranging from steroid tablets and injections, or other immunosuppressant or biological medicines. Prof Ehrenstein added: 'To have a positive result in a personalised medicine trial for lupus would be globally significant, not only for the biomarker and treatment combination, but also the success of this targeted approach. 'Everyone talks about personalised medicine, but so far this goal has not been achieved in inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 'Stratify Lupus will be the first biomarker enrichment trial for lupus, which is a real coup for UK research.' The study is being funded by the charity Versus Arthritis and the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Professor Lucy Donaldson, director of research at Versus Arthritis, said: 'This major trial holds real promise of a better future for those living with lupus, which particularly affects underserved people. 'Too few advances have been made in tackling the devastating disease which mainly affects women, in particular women of African and Caribbean heritage, in the prime of their lives.'
