He spent 72 years using an iron lung machine to breathe after surviving polio as a child.

In a video message she said she started preventative chemotherapy last month.

Women in India are found to be twice as likely to lose babies if they are working in hot conditions.

Test for patients in England checks if tumours can be treated with pills rather than chemotherapy.

Test for patients in England checks if tumours can be treated with pills rather than chemotherapy.

Surgeons say using animals for organ donation could cut waiting lists and save lives.

Surgeons say using animals for organ donation could cut waiting lists and save lives.

The prescription drug has been linked to a number of deaths in the UK and around the world.

The prescription drug has been linked to a number of deaths in the UK and around the world.

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
Background: Robust preanalytical and analytical processes are critical for the detection of cryoproteins. There is significant variation in practice in the detection, analysis and reporting. Results: A survey in 2018 of 137 laboratories participating in the UK National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) (6) quality control program showed significant variation in the laboratory processes which highlighted the need for standardisation of the detection, analysis and reporting of cryoglobulins.Conclusion: The first available EQA scheme aiming to harmonise practice for cryoprotein testing has been developed by UK NEQAS and laboratories should participate in an appropriate EQA scheme to fulfil requirements for ISO accreditation.

Neuroferritinopathy is a brain disease which traps people, mostly from one family, in their bodies.

An AI tool called Mia found missed breast cancer symptoms in the scans of 11 women during an NHS test.

A group representing hundreds of clinicians wants to highlight a culture "detrimental to patient safety".

Women in India are found to be twice as likely to lose babies if they are working in hot conditions.

Rishi Sunak declines to back Sir Liam Fox's call to outlaw the abortion after 24 weeks of foetuses diagnosed with Down's syndrome.

It follows reports, first published by the Daily Mirror, that a staff member at the London Clinic attempted to access her private medical reports.

Ballot results give British Medical Association another six-month mandate for walkouts in England.

The UK government pushes ahead with plans for some of the world's toughest anti-tobacco laws.

Government bans 15 synthetic opioids, but experts say it must do more.

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundCarnitine is essential for fatty acid metabolism. Free carnitine (FCA) is excreted in the urine in the glomerulus, but is partly reabsorbed by a carnitine transporter. The mechanism underlying the decrease in serum carnitine level during pregnancy is unclear.ObjectiveTo investigate whether low carnitine level is associated with increased renal excretion in pregnant women.MethodsWe recruited 43 healthy pregnant and 25 non-pregnant women. Total carnitine (TCA) and FCA levels were measured using the enzymatic cycling method, and the acylcarnitine (ACA) level was calculated. Fractional excretion (FE) was calculated as carnitine clearance divided by creatinine clearance.ResultsThe mean TCA, FCA, and ACA levels were lower at 12 weeks of gestation in pregnant than non-pregnant women (P < .001); the levels decreased further at 36 weeks, reaching 39%, 36%, and 52% of those in non-pregnant women, respectively (P < .001). The FEs were 3–4-fold higher in pregnant women than non-pregnant women. Pregnant women had a lower serum FCA/TCA ratio than non-pregnant women (0.788 ± 0.098 vs 0.830 ± 0.074, respectively; P < .05), whereas the urine FCA/TCA ratio was similar between the groups.ConclusionLow carnitine level is associated with increased renal excretion during late pregnancy.