Media Monitoring: 16th – 21st October

Genetic sequencing key to predicting kidney cancer severity

Swedish researchers have found four genes in kidney cancer cells which could predict the chances of the tumour spreading and patients’ likely survival rates
This is crucial as outcomes are dramatically less positive if the cancer spreads, particularly to the spine (as is common with kidney cancer)
Patients genetically more likely to have their cancer spread can therefore be monitored more closely and be given better care

Community diagnostic centres ‘may struggle to live up to ministers’ promises’

Despite pledges to establish CDCs in accessible locations, The King’s Fund has found that only 17 sites (1 in 5) are “in the community”
A key reason for their establishment was to prevent patients from having to visit hospitals for tests and instead visit a centre in a convenient local location, such as a high street facility or shopping centre
The organisation stated that the Government had “much to learn” from the approach successfully employed by vaccine centres during the pandemic, where facilities were located in convenient places

More accurate predictive test for cervical cancer developed

The test detects cell changes which can result in cervical cancer and possesses greater accuracy than current tests
It can also pick up DNA markers for other cancers and could therefore be used in future to detect other cancers that affect women, including womb and ovarian
For those who do not have cell changes but who had human papilloma virus (HPV), the biggest cause of cervical cancer, it detected 55% of those who would have cell changes in the next four years

Rapid test for periodontal disease developed by researchers

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have developed a test for periodontal disease which is expected to be rolled out to point-of-care settings
Currently a physical exam is used to diagnose the disease, this new rapid test can be employed anywhere
The test uses a specialised probe with a detector and measures biomarkers which diagnoses the disease and its severity

3-minute Parkinson’s test could help to diagnose the disease

The ‘Parkinson’s Smell’ phenomenon has recently been reported on and now a test has been developed to diagnose the disease
The non-invasive test collects sebum and uses it to try to detect biomarkers
Increase in sebum is a typical sign of Parkinson’s – first discovered nearly 100 years ago

First HIV self-swab tests available to buy in the UK

Superdrug are now offering HIV self-swab tests for consumers to buy
This means that people are able to take HIV tests at home by swabbing their gums; achieving results in just 20 minutes
People would normally take a blood test to diagnose HIV, with results coming back to patients in a maximum of 72 hours