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Diabetes Gene Raises Odds Of Lower Birth Weight
Pediatric researchers have found that a gene previously shown to be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes also predisposes children to having a lower birth weight. The finding sheds light on a possible genetic influence on how prenatal events may set the stage for developing diabetes in later childhood or adulthood.
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They Are Young And Need The Job: A Second Chance For Dangerous T-cells
The immune system"s T-cells react to foreign protein fragments and therefore are crucial to combating viruses and bacteria. Errant cells that attack the body"s own material are in most cases driven to cell death. Some of these autoreactive T-cells, however, undergo a kind of reeducation to become "regulatory T-cells" that keep other autoreactive T-cells under control. A group led by immunologist Professor Ludger Klein of LMU Munich has now shown that the developmental stage of an autoreactive T-cell is decisive to its ultimate destiny. Young autoreactive T cells are very readily reeducated into regulatory T-cells. Under identical conditions, however, older T cells become fully activated and can cause damage they are in a way resistant to reeducation. "We now intend to study at the molecular level what makes a T-cell accessible for reeducation," said Klein, "because then it may be possible to convert even normal adult T-cells, which can be obtained easily and in great numbers from blood. Possibly, they could then be used as regulatory T-cells in therapies for autoimmune diseases such as type-1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis: these are diseases that are triggered by uncontrolled autoreactive T-cells." (PNAS, 10 June 2009)
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Unlocking The Key To Human Fertility
Scientists at Leeds and Bradford have discovered a unique "DNA signature" in human sperm, which may act as a key that unlocks an egg"s fertility and triggers new life.
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Action Needed Now To Stop NHS Wales Becoming Unsafe For Staff And Patients - Says British Medical Association Cymru Wales

Doctors" leaders are warning that unless urgent action is taken to plug the gap in the shortage of middle grade doctors, the NHS in Wales could become unsafe both for staff and patients. The problem has been highlighted most recently within Hywel Dda NHS Trust, where 62 posts remain vacant. But this situation is by no means isolated to Hywel Dda, with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Trust having had to move some specialist services because they were inadequately staffed and similar problems are also affecting North Wales too. Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of the BMA says: "We are facing unprecedented levels of a lack of middle grade and junior doctors right across Wales, which is clearly unacceptable to both our members and people needing hospital treatment and this does not look like changing in the immediate future. "There are a variety of reasons for this shortage, one being that Wales does not top the list of places where many junior doctors desire to work. Also, changes to the rules regarding immigration have caused problems with recruitment across the whole of the UK, not just Wales. "The high level of middle grade and junior doctor vacancies means that consultants are left picking up the pieces where there are gaps in rotas. This is compromising consultants" ability to deliver routine daily work and there is no evidence that hospitals are adjusting services to take these shortfalls into account. Inevitably, the rates of work being undertaken cannot be sustained with the current levels of staffing. Hospital managers really need to address this now, working with clinical colleagues. "These problems come as no surprise however to us at the BMA, having predicted that these shortages would happen at some point. That is why we have, for some time now been trying to meet with representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government, to see how we can work together, drawing on the experience of front line doctors, especially juniors, to look for some solutions to the situation. "BMA Cymru Wales has also worked in partnership with the Wales Deanery for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, to produce a DVD for students, giving an invaluable insight into medical training here. "The aim of the video is to promote Wales as a primary destination to study medicine and to attract more junior doctors to apply, to complete their postgraduate training here. However, the positive effects of this will not be seen immediately. "The initiative to provide free accommodation for F1 doctors has been welcomed by BMA Cymru Wales and has had some impact. Yet, we believe far more effort should have been put into anticipating and planning for the current shortages, especially the impact of the European Working Time Directive which has been known about for more than 13 years! Whilst it is very late in the day, BMA Cymru Wales urges the Welsh Assembly Government and employers to focus on the actions we have been highlighting for some considerable time. We do not believe sufficient, co-ordinated efforts to recruit and retain doctors to Wales has been made. "While in the short term, we have to have contingency plans put in place as soon as possible to ensure the safety of both NHS staff and patients, we need far more sustainable solutions if NHS Wales is to deliver and maintain the quality and capacity of services the people of Wales deserve." British Medical Association Cymru Wales


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