Goodbye to the Smear Test?

Could we be saying “goodbye” to the cervical smear test? The uncomfortable necessity that women have to go through every three years could become a thing of the past with self-testing urine kits, according to researchers in England and Spain.

Cervical screening is available to women in Wales between the ages of 20 and 64. In Scotland, it's between the ages of 20 and 60, though next year this will be extended to 64. In England and Northern Ireland, women are offered smear tests between the ages of 25 and 64, and in the US, the test is available to women between 30 and 64.

Although cervical screening is believed to save the lives of around 4,500 women in the UK every year, many women opt to forgo the uncomfortable procedure. Perhaps this is unsurprising when you consider that it involves a speculum being inserted into the vagina so that cells from the surface of the cervix can be collected in order to screen for HPV, human papillomavirus. NHS figures showed that between 2012 and 2013, although 4.2 million women were invited for testing, almost a million declined to attend.

HPV is thought to be one of the leading causes of cervical cancer and is so common and contagious that around 80% of sexually active women will be affected at some point in their life. Two of the highest risk strains, HPV 16 and HPV 18, are thought to cause 70% of all cervical cancer cases.

Because of this, experts from the Women’s Health Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London and the Clinical Biostatistics Unit in Madrid decided to analyse the data from 14 studies, involving a total of almost 1,450 women, to investigate the effectiveness of detecting the virus through urine tests. They published their findings online in the British Medical Journal .

It was found that urine tests were able to correctly identify HPV 87% of the time, with 94% of negative results also being accurate. Furthermore, for the high-risk strains of the virus, urine tests were 73% accurate when detecting and 98% correct with negative results.

“The detection of HPV in urine is non-invasive, easily accessible, and acceptable for women, and a test with these qualities could considerably increase uptake,” the authors wrote. They concluded that urine tests are accurate enough at detecting the virus that they could be “a feasible alternative to HPV testing of cervical samples collected by health professionals".

The hope is that enabling women to test themselves in the comfort of their own home, and sending their samples off to be analysed, will encourage women who have been ordinarily reluctant to undergo cervical screening in the past.

The next step is to research urine testing further to “identify the true clinical performance” of the method both as this means of encouragement and also in countries with low incomes that currently cannot afford to offer widespread screening.

So, fingers crossed that women around the world will be able to get the HPV screening they need - without the dread of stirrups and speculums - in the not-too-distant future.

Sharks and Manta Rays Get Extra Protection

Finally, some good news for sharks and manta rays! On 14 September, new international laws went into effect to provide extra protection for five species of shark and all species of manta ray.

Sharks and manta rays are hunted for a variety of reasons - food, medicine, trophies - and have been brought increasingly closer to the brink of extinction over the years. They are not the types of creatures that can be bred in captivity and reintroduced into the wild, so when they are gone, they really are gone.

The basking shark and great white shark were already part of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) treaty, under Appendix II . They have now been joined by five other species: great hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, porbeagle sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks and smooth hammerhead sharks.

The new regulations mean that any live specimens of (or pieces of) manta rays or the five shark species can only be exported with a special permit that needs to be obtained in advance. If a permit is not provided to confirm that the creatures have been legally and sustainably harvested, the sale of that creature's fin or meat will be prohibited.

“Now, the international community is paying more attention to the ocean,” explained CITES legal expert Juan Carlos Vasquez. “The health of marine species is a good indicator of the health of this big marine ecosystem.”

It is possible that the fishing focus could shift to other shark species and creatures not yet listed on the CITES treaty, or simply move to another area, so the Convention and other authorities will have to remain vigilant.

Although some countries have said that they will not be bound by the new laws, but will only be able to trade with other countries that have also declined, greatly limiting trade possibilities.

As the regulations are rolled out, ports of entry will be used by customs agencies and national authorities to check permits and looking for illegal shark parts, and so far, environmentalists and fisheries officials have been cooperating in making sure these new rules are followed.

“It is an amazing movement we are witnessing here,” Vasquez noted. “For the first time, we are finding a way to bring these players together.”

CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon said that the regulations will need to be practically implemented by determining manageable export levels, sorting out the special permits, and identifying the shark and manta ray parts that are already being traded.

“Regulating international trade in these sharks and manta ray species is critical to their survival,” he said. “This may seem challenging, but by working together we can do it and we will do it.”

Patrick Stewart Surprises Make-a-Wish Trekkie at DragonCon

There is no denying it: Sir Patrick Stewart is a legend. In fact, he is one of the greatest and well-loved legends of our time. And he appears to age at a much slower rate than the rest of us - he looks just as he did when he first graced our screens as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation almost 30 years ago.

It isn’t just on the big screen or theatre that he shows us just what a brilliant person he is, either. Just type his name into YouTube and you have videos upon videos of the great man (often with his bestie, Sir Ian McKellen) that will bring tears of laughter streaming down your face.

And on top of all that is his charity work and activism against domestic violence. He really is the type of person we should all aspire to be.

And he has done it again (and you might want the tissues for this one)!

After hearing that a little girl (and HUGE Star Trek fan) would be attending DragonCon 2014 through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, at the same time as him, he arranged to meet her.

Dawn Garrigus, 11, from Georgia in the US, has a rare progressive and chronic mitochondrial disease. The condition can cause problems with development, as well as mental and physical disability.

Because of her illness, Dawn was offered a wish from the Make-a-Wish Foundation , so she told them that she really wanted to go to DragonCon 2014, which was being held in her home state. DragonCon is a fantasy and sci-fi convention, with Star Trek often featuring heavily. The little Trekkie would be in her element there in her full Captain Spock costume - complete with Vulcan ears.

Although Dawn was told him August that her wish had been granted and she would be able to attend the event, Sir Patrick's meet-and-greet was kept under wraps, and Mini-Spock didn’t know anything about it until mere moments before. Photographer James Barker , taking pictures for DragonCon, was on hand to capture the magical moment Dawn met Captain Picard.

She said that she didn’t know what to say to him at first because she was shy, but he kept talking to her until she was comfortable. “I felt like I was on the Enterprise talking to the captain,” she explained. “And suddenly, I was okay.”

Mr Barker posted a photo of the pair hugging on his Facebook page , describing it as one of his favourite pictures from DragonCon that year.

Sir Patrick spent a little time with Dawn and her family, signing autographs and posing for more pictures, before going off to address a 2000-strong legion of fans.

Danny and Kristy, Dawn’s parents, explained that their daughter’s illness can cause her to feel isolated and make it difficult for her to relate to other children her age, but the meeting with Sir Patrick had made her look happier than she had for some time.

“We've seen a very positive response,” they said. “Her brief visit with Sir Patrick has alleviated that feeling which we cannot begin to express gratitude for.”

Dawn’s parents have also sent an open message out to Sir Pat, just so he knows just what an impact he has made: “You have made a mark on her and our life that will never be forgotten!”’

The World’s First Player-Powered Football Pitch

Have you ever watched a game of football and thought about all of the potential energy that was being wasted? Maybe not, but a start-up company from London has!

Pavegen has created tiles that convert the kinetic energy of a footstep into electrical power, with some already in use in Heathrow Airport, trains stations across Europe, and even in some schools in England and New York.

Working with oil company Shell , Pavegen has used its technology to refurbish a football pitch in a slum in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, used by the local children and youth football team.

The field has been covered with 200 energy-harnessing tiles with a layer of astroturf over the top, as well as solar panels surrounding the pitch. The solar panels create up to 80% of the energy used by the pitch during the day, while all of the energy needed to power floodlights in the evening and such comes from the tiles beneath the players’ feet.

At the moment, each tile costs around £310 ($500), but as the company refines the manufacturing process, the price is dropping, which means that more and more projects could benefit from the installation of these tiles in the future.

Pavegen CEO and founder Laurence Kemball-Cook didn’t want to give away any of the secrets of the tiles’ technology, but did explain that they work like a cog system. Once a tile is stepped on, the “cogs” spin and act like generators, to store and convert energy.

“We have effectively turned this community into a real-life science experiment. I believe this technology can be one of the future ways we illuminate our cities,” he declared. “We have taken this idea from a bedroom in London to a football pitch in Brazil.”

Brazilian football legend Pelé led the countdown to the pitch’s floodlights being turned on for the first time at dusk and donated a signed football to the community. But he thought he was at the launch for a regular artificial - a welcome gift on its own.

“I didn’t expect that this field could produce energy!” he exclaimed. “It is the first in the world.”

The 73-year-old explained that the sport of football had been through so much technological innovation since the last time he played. “This new pitch show the extraordinary things possible when science and sport come together.”

New York Fashion Week: ‘Role Models, Not Runway Models’

Once again, Carrie Hammer has been pushing the boundaries of New York Fashion Week , showing that beauty comes in all forms.

When a person is lacking in self-confidence, there is nothing more confidence-boosting than being invited to walk down a New York Fashion Week runway, reminding that person of just how beautiful they really are.

For 31-year-old Karen Crespo from California, that is exactly what it was like.

Karen has always been interested in fashion, but a battle with bacterial meningitis three years ago meant that doctors had to amputate both her arms and both her legs. Karen was then in a coma for more than two weeks before spending a further five months in an intensive care unit.

After being left with a body she didn’t recognise and struggled to love, walking down the runway seemed like an impossible dream for Karen.

But then, in February, Karen read about a fashion show from Carrie Hammer, a fashion designer who specialised in women’s professional yet stylish clothing. What caught Karen's attention was that one of Carrie's models was Danielle Sheypuk, who had become the first ever runway model in a wheelchair.

“I thought, ‘This is amazing, how someone would break the boundaries and let someone in a wheelchair be in New York Fashion Week!’” Karen said. It spurred her to contact Carrie, to thank her for proving that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, with no right or wrong.

Carrie responded by inviting Karen to participate in Role Models, Not Runway Models, part of her New York Fashion Week show which features accomplished women with empowering stories to share, each flaunting a piece from Carrie’s latest collection - in this case, the SS15 (Spring/Summer 2015).

New prosthetics were also arranged for Karen after Carrie learned that a recent order of custom-made prosthetics - worth around $100,000/£62,000 - had gone missing from her porch shortly after being delivered.

On September 5, last Friday, Karen Crespo became the first quadruple-amputee to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week . She wore a red, fitted A-line gown that falls just below the knee and a scooped back. The dress was also named “The Karen” in honour of its wearer.

Describing the experience, Karen speculated that everything she had been through had been meant to happen so that she could inspire and make a difference in someone else’s life.

“I have a totally different perspective on things,” she explained. “Just seeing all those faces when I walked out there, and knowing that hopefully I’ll be able to make a difference and be a role model for other people with disabilities [gave me confidence].”

Carrie said that the whole point of her show was to accentuate the differences among people. “My models definitely way outshine my clothes - I don’t mind!” she declared. “Beauty lies in our differences. There isn’t one slim ideal beauty, but that is what fashion has become all about. My line is all about highlighting the beauty in the differences and making sure that the women feel confident and beautiful in their individualities.”

The Clangers are Back (With a Wonderful New Narrator)!

Raise your hand if you fondly remember watching The Clangers as a child… Originally airing in the late 60s, the little knitted and puppet-like critters captured the childish hearts of so many generations, and we can joyously report that they will be gracing our screens once more!

The Clangers were pink and mousy, living inside craters on a Moon-like planet. The craters were covered in dustbin lids that ‘clanged’, giving the creatures and the show their names. The Clangers, kind-hearted and generous creatures, also communicated with one another in whistles, while the narrator translated and commented on the events taking place.

The Clangers was first shown in November 1969, only four months after man first stepped foot on the moon, and this idea was incorporated into one of the episodes, showing the Clangers making use of a flag left behind on their little Blue Planet.

The show is being co-produced by the BBC’s preschool television channel, CBeebies, as well as a preschool tv channel in the US called Sprout, which will broadcast The Clangers to North America. Media company the Coolabi Group and Smallfilms, behind the Clangers and other classics like Bagpuss and Ivor the Engine, will also play a role in the production of the new series.

And this isn’t the only exciting Clanger-related news! Monty Python member, travel-show presenter, and general English treasure Michael Palin has been confirmed as the new narrator taking up residence on the Clangers’ planet.

“The world of the Clangers is delightful and irresistible,” Mr Palin said. “It is a real pleasure and a great privilege to be a part of its return to television.”

Peter Firmin, who created The Clangers with Oliver Postgate (the narrator in the original series who has since passed away), said that he had wanted Palin as the new narrator, and had wished and hoped for it to happen. “Once in a blue moon, wishes come true,” he said. “This is once in a blue moon. I hope Michael enjoys his voyage to our little Blue Planet.”

Daniel Postgate, son of Oliver Postgate and executive producer of the new series, said that Palin had been his first choice, too, so he was delighted the Python had agreed. “Among other things, he has been a warm and charming guide for us all in his extensive travels around this world,” he added. “It seems wonderfully appropriate that he should pack his bags once more, go off across the starry expanse of space and do the same for the world of the Clangers.”

The whole affair has been deemed as “incredibly exciting” by CBeebies controller Kay Benbow, enhanced all the more by Palin’s involvement.

Production is costing around £5 million and in the UK, the 11-minute show will hit CBeebies in the Spring, when it won’t be surprising if there are grown adults around the country sat cross-legged in front of their television set, reliving their youth.

Hospital Food in England to Get Revamp

Apart from the obvious medical worries, one of things that people don’t like about an overnight stay at hospital is the prospect of having to eat hospital food.

But as of later this year, not only will hospitals in England be enforced to raise the standards of the food they serve to their patients through legally-binding contracts, they will also be ranked on the meals they prepare. This will mean being marked on certain criteria, and the rankings will be posted on the NHS Choices website .

Hospitals will be assessed on the quality of their food and the range of options available to patients. For example, there should be at least one hot meal option for breakfast. Fresh fruit and food should be available between meals and the hospital menu needs to have been approved by a dietician, to ensure that a healthy diet is being promoted to both patients and staff.

Fish will be offered to patients at least twice a week, and any potatoes, rice or vegetables should be cooked without salt, as well as fruit options making up half of the desserts on offer. On top of this, tap water will be available to patients on request, unless stipulated for a medical reason.

When a patient is admitted to hospital, they will be assessed for malnutrition and given a personal food plan based on allergies and diet. Hospital staff will also have the greater responsibility of ensuring that patients get the help they need to physically eat and drink.

“Patients say the quality of food at their hospital is one of the most important things in their stay,” said Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, explaining that patients provided with healthy meals tend to recover more quickly and thus stay in hospital for a shorter time. This, in turn, costs the NHS less, “so there are lots of reasons why this is very important.”

Hospital canteens, which sell food and drinks to staff and patients, as well as visitors, will also have to comply with the new rules. This means ensuring that the food they sell have lower levels of sugar, salt and fat, as well as providing other healthier options for their customers.

Mr Hunt said that the new hospital food standards are part of a plan towards making the NHS more transparent to the public. Not only does it mean giving patients the chance to compare the food available to them on different wards, but also providing hospitals with even more of an incentive to raise the standards of their meals.

“Many hospitals are already offering excellent food to their patients and staff,” he added, “but we want to know that all patients have nourishing and appetising food to help them get well faster and stay healthy.”

Football Legend at Centre of Twitter Craze

If you need a chuckle this Monday afternoon, then we might have just the thing for you - Steve Bruce at Weddings!

Mr Bruce has been involved in football for the last 37 years, ranging from his youth career at Gillingham to currently managing Hull City.

But what does he like to do in his spare time? If the latest viral craze to hit Twitter is anything to go by, he apparently enjoys attending the occasional wedding...

“But what’s so funny about that?” we hear you ask.

Well, take a look for yourself!

Mr Bruce doing his Night Fever impression.

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Mr Bruce witnessing Peter Andre and Katie Price getting married.

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Mr Bruce celebrating the Royal Wedding.

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And our personal favourite...

Mr Bruce flashing his light saber.

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If you'd like to see more pictures of Mr Bruce getting his wedding on or you want to keep up to date with the latest weddings that he has made an appearance at, check out @bruceatwedding on Twitter.