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Over the last 70 years, hydralazine has been an indispensable tool in medicine — a front-line defense against life-threatening high blood pressure, especially during pregnancy. But despite its essential role, a fundamental mystery has persisted: no one knew its “mechanism of action” — essentially how it works at a molecular level, which allows formproved efficacy, safety, and what it can treat.potential and could help in the design of safer, more effective drugs for both maternal health and brain cancer.Over the last 70 years, hydralazine has been an indispensable tool in medicine — a front-line defense against life-threatening high blood pressure, especially during pregnancy. But despite its essential role, a fundamental mystery has persisted: no one knew its “mechanism of action” — essentially how it works at a molecular level, which allows formproved efficacy, safety, and what it can treat.
“Hydralazine is one of the earliest vasodilators ever developed, and it’s still a first-line treatment for preeclampsia — a hypertensive disorder that accounts for 5 to 15% of maternal deaths worldwide,” says Kyosuke Shishikura, a physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. “It came from a ‘pre-target’ era of drug discovery, when researchers relied on what they saw in patients first and only later tried to explain the biology behind it.”
Now Shishikura, his postdoctoral advisor at Penn Megan Matthews, and collaborators have solved this long-standing puzzle.
In a paper published in Science Advances, they uncovered the method of action of hydralazine, and in doing so, revealed an unexpected biological link between hypertensive disorders and brain cancer. The findings highlight how long-established treatments can reveal new therapeutic potential and could help in the design of safer, more effective drugs for both maternal health and brain cancer.
“Preeclampsia has affected generations of women in my own family and continues to disproportionately impact Black mothers in the United States,” Matthews says. “Understanding how hydralazine works at the molecular level offers a path toward safer, more selective treatments for pregnancy-related hypertension — potentially improving outcomes for patients who are at greatest risk.”
Hydralazine blocks an oxygen-sensing enzyme
The team found that hydralazine blocks an oxygen-sensing enzyme called 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO) — a molecular switch that tells blood vessels when to tighten.

“ADO is like an alarm bell that rings the moment oxygen starts to fall,” Matthews says. “Most systems in the body take time; they have to copy DNA, make RNA, and build new proteins. ADO skips all that. It flips a biochemical switch in seconds.”
Hydralazine acts by binding to and blocking ADO, which means it effectively “mutes” that oxygen alarm. Once the enzyme was silenced, the signaling proteins it normally degrades — called regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) — remained stable.
The buildup of RGS proteins, says Shishikura, tells the blood vessels to stop constricting, effectively overriding the “squeeze” signal. This reduces intracellular calcium levels, which he calls the “master regulator of vascular tension.” As calcium levels fall, the smooth muscles in blood vessel walls relax, causing vasodilation and a drop in blood pressure.
From preeclampsia to brain cancer: A common target
Prior to this study, cancer researchers and clinicians had begun to suspect that ADO was important in glioblastoma, where tumors often have to survive in pockets of very low oxygen, Shishikura explains. Elevated levels of ADO and its metabolic products had been linked with more aggressive disease, suggesting that shutting this enzyme down could be a powerful strategy, but no one had a good inhibitor to test that idea.
To see if hydralazine was a contender, Shishikura worked closely with structural biochemists at the University of Texas, who used X-ray crystallography, a high-resolution imaging technique, to visualize hydralazine bound to ADO’s metal center and , and with neuroscientists at the University of Florida, who tested the drug’s effects in brain cancer cells.

They found that the ADO pathway that regulates vascular contraction also helps tumor cells survive in low-oxygen environments. Unlike chemotherapy, which aims to kill all cells outright, hydralazine disrupted that oxygen-sensing loop, triggering cellular “senescence,” or a dormant, non-dividing state in glioblastoma cells, effectively pausing growth without triggering further inflammation or resistance.
Unlocking the potential for other life-saving treatments
Their findings highlight how long-established treatments can reveal new therapeutic potential and could help in the design of safer, more effective drugs for both maternal health and brain cancer.
They say the next step is to push the chemistry further building new ADO inhibitors that are more tissue specific and better at crossing, or exploiting weak points in, the blood-brain barrier so they hit tumor tissue hard while sparing the rest of the body.
Matthews is also working to continue engineering the next generation of medical solutions by revealing the mechanics of clinically tested, long-known treatments.
“It’s rare that an old cardiovascular drug ends up teaching us something new about the brain,” Matthews says, “but that’s exactly what we’re hoping to find more of — unusual links that could spell new solutions.”
Megan L. Matthews is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
Kyosuke Shishikura is a postdoctoral researcher in the Matthews Group at Penn Arts & Sciences.
Other authors include Eric W. Barr, Zev A. Binder, Kelly Hicks, and Donald M. O’Rourke of the University of Pennsylvania; Ren-Ming Hu and Xie Wang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Snehil R; Chilkamari of the Georgia Institute of Technology; Jiasong Li of Nanjing Agricultural University; Katelyn A. Bustin and William H. Parsons of Oberlin College; J. Martin Bollinger Jr. of the Pennsylvania State University; Mahaa Ayub of Thomas Jefferson University; Yiming Chen and Kirill A. Martemyanov of the University of Florida; Thomas P. Keeley of the University of Oxford; and Zongtao Lin of Washington University in St. Louis.
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIDA 1DP1DA051620, DA036596, and NCI R37CA285434); the National Science Foundation (CHE-2204225); the American Cancer Society (129784-IRG-16-188-38-IRG); the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation New Initiative Grant; the University Research Fund; the Astellas Foundation for Research on Metabolic Disorders; and the Herbert and Diane Bischoff Fund.

A recent cover article in Aging-US, titled “Sex-specific longitudinal reversal of aging in old frail mice,” highlights a promising new direction in longevity research.
The work, led by first author Cameron Kato along with corresponding author and Aging-US Editorial Board Member Irina M. Conboy at the University of California, Berkeley, reveals that combining oxytocin with an Alk5 inhibitor (OT+A5i) greatly improved both lifespan and overall health in frail, elderly, male mice. Female mice did not experience the same long-lasting benefits, pointing to important biological differences in how each sex responds to anti-aging therapies.
“These findings establish the significant health-span extension capacity of OT+A5i and emphasize the differences in aging and in response to longevity therapeutics between the sexes.”
How the Dual-Drug Strategy Works
The team used a two-part treatment designed to address major biological changes that occur with age. Oxytocin, a hormone known to support tissue repair and naturally decline over time, was paired with an Alk5 inhibitor that blocks the TGF-beta pathway. TGF-beta activity tends to increase in older tissues and is linked to inflammation and cellular damage. In this research, frail mice aged 25 months, which is roughly equivalent to 75 human years, received regular OT+A5i treatment.
Male mice treated with this combination lived more than 70% longer than untreated mice and showed marked improvements in agility, endurance, and memory. Hazard ratio analysis indicated that treated males were nearly three times less likely to die at any moment compared to untreated controls.
“Treatment of old frail male mice with OT+A5i resulted in a remarkable 73% life extension from that time, and a 14% increase in the overall median lifespan.”
Sex Differences in Long-Term Benefits

The treatment also restored a more youthful pattern in circulating blood proteins by reducing “biological noise,” a recognized indicator of aging. Although both males and females experienced short-term improvements, only the males maintained long-term gains in systemic protein balance after four months of continuous therapy. Female mice showed no major improvements in lifespan or sustained health measures, although middle-aged females did experience increased fertility.
These outcomes highlight how strongly sex-specific biology can influence the effectiveness of aging interventions. The exact reasons behind these differences are still unclear, yet the study establishes a useful model for understanding how therapies may work differently across sexes.
Potential Path to Human Application
Oxytocin already has FDA approval, and Alk5 inhibitors are being evaluated in clinical trials, which raises the possibility that this combined approach could eventually be adapted for humans. Based on the robust improvements seen in frail elderly male mice, OT+A5i may hold significant promise for enhancing late-life health and survival in the future.

13 minutes agoShareSaveNick TriggleHealth correspondentShareSaveGetty ImagesThe public inquiry into the Covid pandemic has cost the government more than £100m to respond to so far, the BBC has learnt. This is on top of the £192m spent by the inquiry itself – meaning the cost to the taxpayer is over 50% more than previously thought.The government spending covers legal advice and staffing costs – at last count a team of 248 were working across key departments to produce evidence for the inquiry.Inquiry sources questioned the approach, saying the government has at times been “hostile and difficult”, blocking the release of information and delivering documents late.But the Cabinet Office said it was committed to the inquiry and learning the lessons for the future.However, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has branded it a waste of money and the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said while the work being done was vital, public inquiries generally needed to become more efficient and less adversarial.’Defensive attitude’The scale and cost of the Covid Inquiry has already been questioned by some.It got under way in 2022 and its final report is not expected until 2027. It has already cost £192m – a figure which is expected to rise past £200m by the time it is finished, making it one of the most expensive public inquiries in history.In total there are 10 separate investigations – or modules as they are called. So far only two, looking at pandemic preparedness and government decision-making, have been completed.But analysis of Cabinet Office documents by the BBC has found government departments spent around £101m from April 2023 to June 2025.The bulk of this is thought to have been accrued by five key departments – the Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, Treasury and UK Health Security Agency, which have been repeatedly asked to provide evidence.The costing estimates do not include time officials spend preparing and appearing as witnesses in person.More than half the £101m spend has been on legal fees – including bringing in external lawyers.An inquiry source said that to some extent the spending reflected the defensive attitude of the government towards the inquiry.Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett and the inquiry legal team have criticised government departments for delays providing documents and blocking the release of key information.This most famously came to a head in 2023, when the inquiry and government ended up in the High Court over the government’s refusal to release Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks. The government lost the case.Sources said the government had set up a “huge operation” which had at times seemed “hostile and difficult” to the inquiry.A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: “The government is fully committed to supporting the work of the inquiry and to learning lessons from the pandemic to ensure the UK is better prepared for a future pandemic.”The Cabinet Office argues the court case was brought to gain clarity on a point of principle – the right of an inquiry to request information that the provider considers irrelevant.’Disgrace’John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance think tank, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace that ministers have burnt through an extra £100m on top of what the inquiry itself has already spent.”These new figures show the total cost to taxpayers will be far higher than previously feared.”Ministers must urgently get a grip on the spiralling costs of the Covid Inquiry and commit to delivering answers swiftly and efficiently.”A spokesman for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said the work of the inquiry was “vital” and any costs would be recouped many times over in the future if lessons were learned by reducing the economic impact of the next pandemic as well as saving lives.But he added: “The inquiry process is far from perfect.”He said the group supported the Hillsborough Law, which is working its way through parliament and strengthens the legal duty on public authorities to assist public inquiries.He said public inquiries like the Covid one needed to become more efficient and less adversarial.”Only then can we bring down the cost of future inquiries while protecting access to justice.”A spokesman for the Covid Inquiry said: “The inquiry is unlike any previous public inquiry. It was given a very broad scope because it is investigating multiple aspects of a pandemic that affected everyone in society.”He said the chair had made clear at the start that would take time and have significant cost, but it would result in recommendations that are intended to better protect the UK when the next pandemic strikes.He said the inquiry would not comment on the nature of the relationship with the government.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in seven people across the globe lived with a mental illness in 2021, with anxiety disorders and depression occurring most frequently. These conditions often stem from a mix of influences, and genetics play a major part in shaping a person’s risk. Having a close family member with a mental illness remains one of the strongest known predictors. Until recently, research suggested that psychiatric disorders typically develop from the combined effects of many different genes.
“Our current findings indicate that GRIN2A is the first known gene that, on its own, can cause a mental illness. This distinguishes it from the polygenic causes of such disorders that have been assumed to date,” says Professor Johannes Lemke, lead author of the study and Director of the Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Leipzig Medical Center.
Study Links GRIN2A Variants to Early-Onset Psychiatric Symptoms
In this investigation, researchers conducted a statistical analysis of data from 121 individuals who carried a genetic change in the GRIN2A gene. “We were able to show that certain variants of this gene are associated not only with schizophrenia but also with other mental illnesses. What is striking is that, in the context of a GRIN2A alteration, these disorders already appear in childhood or adolescence — in contrast to the more typical manifestation in adulthood,” says Professor Lemke. The research team also highlighted an unexpected finding: some participants showed only psychiatric symptoms, even though GRIN2A changes are usually linked to epilepsy or intellectual disability.
How GRIN2A Affects Brain Signaling and a Possible Treatment Approach
The GRIN2A gene helps regulate how active nerve cells are by influencing their electrical signaling. In this study, certain gene variants reduced the function of the NMDA receptor, a key component involved in communication between brain cells. Working with Dr. Steffen Syrbe, Professor at the Heidelberg Medical Faculty and pediatric neurologist at Heidelberg University Hospital, the team demonstrated that this reduced activity may be medically important. In an early treatment effort, patients experienced noticeable improvements in psychiatric symptoms after receiving L-serine — a dietary supplement that activates the NMDA receptor.
Professors Johannes Lemke and Steffen Syrbe have collaborated for nearly 15 years in both clinical and research settings to better understand disorders involving the brain’s glutamate receptor in children with neurological conditions. Over this period, Professor Lemke established an international registry containing the largest known group of GRIN2A patients worldwide, providing the foundation for the findings published in this study.

Patients living with major depressive disorder, including those who have not improved with commonly prescribed antidepressants, may benefit from short-term nitrous oxide treatment, according to a large meta-analysis led by the University of Birmingham.
The paper, published in eBioMedicine on November 30, reviewed the strongest available clinical data to explore how clinically administered nitrous oxide (N2O) might provide fast-acting relief from depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
What treatment-resistant depression is and how common it can be
TRD is defined as depression that remains insufficiently controlled after a person has tried two different antidepressant medications. A previous study led by the same research team found that around 48% of patients in the UK gain only limited benefit from standard antidepressant treatments, highlighting a substantial unmet need.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham, the University of Oxford, and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust evaluated seven clinical trials and four protocol papers conducted by research groups across the world. These studies examined the use of nitrous oxide, which is also widely used as a pain relief option in medical procedures, as a treatment for depressive disorders including MDD, TRD and bipolar depression.
Single sessions, repeated doses and how nitrous oxide may act in the brain
The analysis showed that a single session of inhaled clinical nitrous oxide at 50% concentration (in three of the trials) led to rapid and meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms within 24 hours. However, these improvements did not generally persist after one week. When patients received repeated treatments over several weeks, the benefits lasted longer, indicating that a course of multiple sessions, rather than a one-off dose, may be necessary to sustain clinical improvement.

Nitrous oxide is believed to act on glutamate receptors in a manner similar to ketamine, another rapid-acting antidepressant. This action on glutamate pathways may account for the relatively swift improvements in mood that are seen shortly after inhalation.
Kiranpreet Gill, a PhD researcher funded by the Medical Research Council at the University of Birmingham and first author of the study, said: “Depression is a debilitating illness, made even more so by the fact that antidepressants make no meaningful difference for almost half of all patients diagnosed with it. There is a growing body of research on repurposing treatments from other clinical domains to alleviate low mood. This study brings together the best possible evidence indicating that nitrous oxide has the potential to provide swift and clinically significant short-term improvements in patients with severe depression.
“Our analyses show that nitrous oxide could form part of a new generation of rapid-acting treatments for depression. Importantly, it provides a foundation for future trials to investigate repeated and carefully managed dosing strategies that can further determine how best to use this treatment in clinical practice for patients who don’t respond to conventional interventions.”
Strong short-term evidence, but more trials are needed
The meta-analysis reported robust evidence that nitrous oxide can improve mood over the short term after administration. At the same time, the relatively small number of clinical trials meant there were noticeable differences in how depressive symptoms were measured and reported, as well as in the timing of follow-up assessments. The authors note that further research is essential to identify the most effective dosing regimen, to fully understand the long-term safety of nitrous oxide, and to work out how best to incorporate it into existing treatment pathways.
Safety profile and side effects of nitrous oxide
The researchers also evaluated safety and side effects. Some participants experienced issues such as nausea, dizziness and headaches, but these problems were short lived and resolved without the need for medical treatment. Higher doses at 50% concentration were linked with a greater chance of these side effects occurring, yet none of the studies identified any immediate safety concerns. The team stressed that long-term safety must still be clarified through future studies that include longer follow-up periods.

Professor Steven Marwaha from the University of Birmingham, Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, and senior author of the study said: “This is a significant milestone in understanding the potential of nitrous oxide as an added treatment option for patients with depression who have been failed by current treatments. This population has often lost hope of recovery, making the results of this study particularly exciting. These findings highlight the urgent need for new treatments that can complement existing care pathways, and further evidence is needed to understand how this approach can best support people living with severe depression.”
Expanding options for treatment-resistant depression in diverse communities
The study was carried out by researchers at the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre, which is led by the University of Birmingham and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research through the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. The team is focused on improving treatment options for treatment-resistant depression in superdiverse and deprived communities. The Centre’s goal is to speed up the development and rollout of innovative, evidence-based treatments that can both enhance outcomes and reduce inequalities in mental health care.
This work also connects with ongoing initiatives at the Birmingham Clinic for Advanced Mood Disorder Management (CALM), where advanced, evidence-based treatments such as ketamine and neuromodulation are already being provided for people living with severe or treatment-resistant depression.
Next steps: preparing the first NHS trial of nitrous oxide for depression
Building on this translational pathway that moves discoveries into real-world care, the team is now planning the first NHS trial in the UK to examine whether nitrous oxide can be offered safely and in an acceptable way as a treatment for major depression. The results of this upcoming trial will guide how nitrous oxide might be incorporated into NHS services and could broaden the range of innovative treatment choices available for patients who have not gained adequate relief from standard approaches.

During the warm months, Lake Erie becomes an ideal setting for cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, to grow rapidly. Under these conditions, the algae can form large blooms that release toxins at levels capable of harming both wildlife and people.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have now pinpointed the organism responsible for producing these toxins. Their work identifies a particular type of cyanobacteria, known as Dolichospermum, as the source.
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, can consist of many cyanobacterial species, each capable of generating different toxins. Determining which species produces which toxin is important for monitoring, predicting, and managing bloom events.
Tracing the Source of Microcystin and Saxitoxin
A major bloom in 2014 generated the toxin microcystin and posed a serious threat to Toledo’s drinking water supply. Earlier, in 2007, scientists detected signs of an extremely strong toxin called saxitoxin in Lake Erie, although its biological source remained unknown. Saxitoxins belong to a group of closely related neurotoxins that are considered among the most powerful naturally occurring toxins.
“The main advantage of knowing which organism produces the toxin is that it helps us understand the conditions that cause toxin production — that is, what conditions make those organisms successful,” said Gregory Dick, professor of earth and environmental sciences and of environment and sustainability. “Such information can help guide policy and management, though we’re still a long way from that in this case.”
Using DNA Sequencing to Identify the Toxin Producer
To determine which organism was responsible for saxitoxin, the U-M team collected samples directly from HABs as they appeared in the lake. Lead author Paul Den Uyl applied “shotgun” sequencing, a technique that reads all DNA present in a water sample. With these sequences, he reconstructed a complete genome and then searched that genome for the genes involved in making saxitoxin.

Their analysis revealed several strains of Dolichospermum living in Lake Erie. However, only certain strains carried the ability to produce saxitoxin. While the reason for this difference is not yet clear, the researchers began examining the environmental conditions that may influence toxin production.
Environmental Clues in Temperature and Nutrient Levels
The team collected samples from multiple sites across Lake Erie throughout the year and measured how much of the saxitoxin-related gene appeared in each sample. They often detected higher levels of this gene in warmer water.
“That is interesting because we do know that the lakes are changing with climate change,” said Den Uyl, a scientist at U-M’s Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, or CIGLR. “With the warming of the lakes, one of the big questions is, how is that going to change the biological communities, including harmful cyanobacterial blooms?”
They also observed that the gene linked to saxitoxin was less common in areas with elevated ammonium levels. The team suspects this pattern may relate to a distinctive characteristic of Dolichospermum: the presence of a gene that suggests it can use nitrogen in the form of dinitrogen, an abundant atmospheric gas. According to Dick, only a limited number of organisms can use nitrogen in this form, giving Dolichospermum a competitive advantage under certain conditions.
“One of the neat things about having the whole genome is you can see everything the organism can do, at least theoretically,” said Dick, who is also director of CIGLR. “You have the whole blueprint for what the organism can do, and we do see the capability of obtaining fixed nitrogen from the water. It’s just that getting it in the form of dinitrogen gas is kind of a superpower. Not a lot of organisms can do that, and it makes them more competitive under those conditions.”
Monitoring Long-Term Risks in a Changing Lake

According to the researchers, they have monitored saxitoxin in the lake for nine years, but this span is too short to determine whether toxin levels will rise as the climate continues to warm.
“But now that we know who’s producing it, I think we can keep a better watch on these organisms and we can also directly assess the gene abundance over time,” Dick said. “We plan to continue monitoring the abundance of this organism, but it’s too early to tell if it’s becoming more abundant. It’s just a correlation, but that correlation with temperature is concerning.”
Their study appears in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

2 hours agoShareSaveAndy GiddingsWest MidlandsShareSaveFamily photoA woman who successfully underwent a newly-approved form of cancer treatment has said it allowed her to avoid the need for surgery.The method, known as Papillon, uses low energy X-rays to treat rectal cancer patients and it has recently been recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).Sharon Price, an NHS worker from Newcastle-under-Lyme, was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the age of 45 and said: “I was faced with the possibility of surgery, which would mean that I’d have to live with a stoma for the rest of my life.”That was devastating – I was just too young to have to go through that.”A stoma is an opening in the abdomen connected to the digestive system that diverts waste into a bag worn on the outside of the body and the procedure allows patients to avoid the need for one.Nice said it could “substantially improve” quality of life as a result.The treatment is currently used on patients whose tumours measure 3cm (1 inch) or less and who choose not to have surgery or are too high risk.People with larger tumours may also become eligible for the Papillon procedure if other treatments reduce their tumour to 3cm or less.Clatterbridge Cancer CentreThe consultant who pioneered Papillon, Prof Sun Myint from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Merseyside, said: “It is wonderful that patients will now be given a choice of treatment and many of them will have a much better quality of life later because of it.”His trials followed patients for five years and he found Papillon helped preserve organs 93% of the time in cases of rectal cancer where tumours measured 3cm or less.Prof Myint, who is 77 and still working as a consultant, said he was ready to retire once the treatment became “embedded as the standard of care in the NHS and across the world”.Colorectal cancer includes cancers of the rectum, bowel and colon and is the fourth most common cancer in the UK.More on this storyRelated internet links

2 hours agoShareSaveShareSaveGetty ImagesThe number of 999 calls in London has risen over the past week, with London Ambulance Service (LAS) reporting its three busiest days of 2025 in a row. The service said the 20% increase included more calls from people with breathing difficulties due to viral infections and respiratory illnesses such as the flu. NHS figures indicate fewer than half of eligible people in London have had the free flu vaccine this season. Experts have predicted the worst flu season for a decade, fuelled by a new type of a flu virus. Christmas flu LAS strategic commander Laurence Cowderoy said the service had prepared for winter for many months, but still urged Londoners to “only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency”.He said the high call rate was “more typically seen on New Year’s Eve”.Operations to cope with demands over the winter period include:460 ambulances out on the road during peak demandUse of AI More phone appointments A redirect system where patients are moved to ease pressure Karen Bonner, the regional chief nurse for London, said NHS staff had already seen the impact of the new flu strain with people coming into accident and emergency departments with symptoms. “We know it’s a pretty bad flu this year – we know that from seeing it in Australia and other places – so, we really want to protect people,” she said.London Ambulance Service callsThursday 27 November – 7,356 Friday 28 November – 7,608 Saturday 29 November – 7,409 Sunday 30 November – 6,776(London Ambulance Service normally takes around 5,500 calls on a “typically busy day”)Getty ImagesNHS England reported 1.7 million people have taken up a free flu vaccination so far this season in London – about 46% of those eligible. Who is eligible for the flu jab?pregnant womenall children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025children with certain long-term health conditions (aged 6 months to less than 18 years)primary & secondary school aged children (from reception to Year 11)all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 yearseveryone aged 65 years and overindividuals aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditionscare home residentscarers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled personthose living with people who are immunocompromisedfrontline health and social care workers

2 hours agoShareSaveLeigh BoobyerBBC WalesShareSaveFamily handoutA popular and sporty teenager who made a “big impression” at her new university died within weeks of starting, after contracting meningitis.Meg Draper was 18 and had joined swimming and netball teams, but died in October from meningococcal type B meningitis (MenB) while studying physiotherapy in Bournemouth.Her parents, from Pontypool, Torfaen, and the National Union of Students UK are now calling for a vaccine, or booster, to be made available to young adults on the NHS.The MenB vaccine – the only protection against the bacteria, which makes up 82.6% of the meningitis cases in the UK – is only available on the NHS for young children, as they are seen as the most at risk. This protects for a couple of years, and for older children, a booster or vaccine costs about £220 privately. ⁠While MenB is described as “rare” in those over four, there is a second, less common peak in teenagers – which has led to calls for older children to be given the vaccine routinely as well.The Welsh government takes advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which concluded in 2014 a routine jab for young adults was “not cost-effective”.Meg was immunised against meningitis A, C, W and Y, with her parents saying it was “horrific” to find out a separate MenB vaccination existed.The boss of charity Meningitis Now described it as a “tragedy” young people are not routinely protected with it.Meg’s mum Helen Draper said they would have paid the £220 to have her vaccinated privately “in a heartbeat”, adding: “We’ve spoken to hundreds of people who have reached out and we’re yet to find a single person that was aware.”They’re in the same position as we are. “That really scared us because at first we thought we’d dropped the ball, that we’d missed something.”Meningitis is the swelling of the meninges, the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and it is usually caused by a bacterial infection.University students are particularly at risk because they mix with lots of new people, and the bacteria that cause meningitis are spread in similar ways to the common cold through sneezing and coughing.Inspired by the treatment of an injury she suffered days before trialling for the Wales netball under-17s team, Meg landed what her parents called her “dream” place at Bournemouth University, where she studied physiotherapy.Her mother described her as “sporty, gregarious, outgoing, really charismatic, and chatty”, adding: “She just loved being around people and people genuinely loved to be around her.”She had this zest for life that was compelling. We were in awe of her.”Meg hit it off with her flatmates and was enjoying the social side of university, joining swimming and netball teams. But one night she told her parents she was feeling lethargic – within 24 hours her symptoms, including a fever, headache, vomiting and a rash on her stomach, worsened and she went to hospital.She died days later.Her mother said Meg was vaccinated at 14, during the coronavirus lockdown, against the A, C, W and Y strains of meningitis.Mrs Draper and husband Lee thought this meant their daughter was protected against all types of meningitis, including MenB. “The way it was portrayed to us was, that it was the meningitis vaccination, we weren’t aware there was another one,” the 45-year-old said.Family handoutMeg had made lots of friends, with her mother adding: “Even at her funeral, they had to coachload them all up from Bournemouth.”To think, she was only there for five weeks, but the amount of friends she had at university – we couldn’t get over how impactful she’d been in such a short space of time.”What is Meningitis?Meningitis is caused by different types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens, and major bacterial strains include meningococcal types A, B, C, W, X and Y.It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can cause life-threatening septicaemia and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.Over the past year, MenB accounted for 82.6% (313 of 378) of all cases, followed by MenW (43, 11.3%), MenY (13, 3.4%), and MenC (0.8%), according to UK government figures. Babies are at high risk of MenB because they do not have immune protection from antibodies, with the disease rare in those over four.Teenagers are more likely to carry the bacteria in their throats than other age groups, which is why there is this second, smaller, peak of disease in that age group.The MenB vaccine is offered to babies in three doses by the NHS, at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and one years old. If a child has missed any of the vaccines, they can still receive it on the NHS at up to two years old.Symptoms include a severe headache, high temperature and a rash. With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, many people will make a full recovery.About one in four of those who survive is left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.Family handout”We can’t bring Meg back but what we can make sure is that her death isn’t in vain,” said Mrs Draper.”For us, her legacy in doing so is everything.”They want more awareness for parents, and the MenB vaccine available to young adults on the NHS.The Welsh government bases its vaccination policy on JCVI recommendations, and implements them through NHS Wales.”The JCVI advises all governments of the UK on vaccination and immunisation matters, including eligibility, safety, and vaccine schedules,” a spokesperson added.Chief executive of charity Meningitis Now Dr Tom Nutt said MenB can be fatal for as many as one in 10 people affected, adding “when it strikes it can kill within 24 hours”.”The fact there is a vaccination available against MenB that could protect this group of young adults, we think that’s a bit of a tragedy,” he added.”Prevention is better than cure, it’s far better to protect to help healthy lives, to help keep families together and avoid the pain of bereavement and disability which is caused by meningitis. “It’s a good investment in terms of keeping people healthy and saving lives.”A spokesperson for the National Union of Students UK said there is “simply not enough awareness” for young people starting university, adding the NHS should offer the vaccine.”While we all expect the inevitable freshers flu, there are deadly viral strains also circulating which students need to be protected against, and aware of,” they said.”The Meningitis B vaccine should be offered on the NHS – there should never be a cost barrier to life-saving vaccines. “And until then, universities and colleges themselves should consider offering it to their students as no lives should be lost to a preventable virus.”They added any Bournemouth University students who are affected by the news should contact the student union for support.A spokesperson for Bournemouth University said Meg “made a big impression” and “her loss has been felt deeply”.”We advise all our students before they join us how they can get vaccinated against strains of meningitis and send them reminders throughout the year,” they said.”Our advice emphasises that they need to seek medical help immediately if they show any symptoms, even if they have had a vaccination.”The university have been running weekly walk-in clinics on campus for the MenA, C, W and Y strains. The UK Health Security Agency and local health teams said activities on campus could continue, and the risk of transmission is low.Meg’s close contacts have been offered antibiotics to prevent the spread of infection.More top stories

An analysis of records from seven outpatient centers in the New York region found that 20 to 24% of all breast cancers diagnosed over an 11-year span occurred in women between 18 and 49 years old. These findings are being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
“This research shows that a significant proportion of cancers are diagnosed in women under 40, a group for whom there are no screening guidelines at this time,” said Stamatia Destounis, M.D., radiologist Elizabeth Wende Breast Care (EWBC) in Rochester, New York. “Consideration must be given by physicians caring for women in this age group to performing risk assessment in order to identify those who may benefit from more intensive screening due to being higher risk.”
Growing national data sets have been pointing toward an uptick in breast cancer among younger women, which has encouraged experts to reconsider recommended screening ages and how patients are evaluated for risk.
Current Screening Advice Leaves a Gap for Younger Patients
For women considered average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammography every other year beginning at age 40 and continuing until age 74. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 45, with screening optional for those aged 40 to 44. Women who are classified as high risk may be advised to receive a breast MRI and a mammogram each year beginning around age 30, but there are still no established guidelines for women younger than that.
How the Research Was Conducted
Dr. Destounis and EWBC research manager Andrea L. Arieno, B.S., reviewed breast cancer diagnoses made from 2014 through 2024 across seven outpatient facilities spread over a 200-mile area in Western New York. Their goal was to identify every case diagnosed in women aged 18 to 49 and gather detailed information from clinical imaging reports.

“We specifically collected details on how the cancer was found (screening or diagnostic), the type of cancer and other tumor characteristics,” Dr. Destounis said. “We excluded cases that were not primary breast cancer. We analyzed trends over time by age subgroups, detection method and tumor biology. This helped us to identify how breast cancer presents in this patient population, how frequently it occurs and the types of tumors found.”
Most Diagnosed Cancers Were Invasive and Often More Severe
The review identified 1,799 breast cancers in 1,290 women in the 18 to 49 age group. Each year, the number of cases ranged from 145 to 196. The average age at diagnosis was 42.6 years, with cases spanning from ages 23 to 49. Screening detected 731 cancers (41%), while diagnostic evaluation detected 1,068 (59%). Of the total, 1,451 cases (80.7%) were invasive, and 347 (19.3%) were non-invasive.
“Most of these cancers were invasive, meaning they could spread beyond the breast, and many were aggressive types — especially in women under 40,” Dr. Destounis said. “Some were ‘triple-negative,’ a form of breast cancer that is harder to treat because it doesn’t respond to common hormone-based therapies.”
Younger Women Consistently Account for One Quarter of Diagnoses
Although women under 50 made up only 21% to 25% of those screened each year, they still represented about one out of every four breast cancers detected annually.

“This is striking because it shows that younger women not only carry a stable and substantial share of the breast cancer burden, but their tumors are often biologically aggressive,” she said. “”That combination, steady incidence plus disproportionately aggressive biology, directly challenges age-based screening cutoffs and strengthens the case for earlier, risk-tailored screening approaches.”
Stable Numbers Suggest a Long-Term Concern
Dr. Destounis also pointed out that the number of diagnosed cancers in younger women remained consistently high throughout the study period. Even when fewer young women were seen overall, the absolute number of cancers did not decline.
“That means this problem is not going away,” she said. “It is here to stay and needs to be addressed on a larger scale. Research such as this supports earlier and tailored screening to allow for earlier detection and better treatment outcomes. This data reinforces that women under 50, especially those under 40, shouldn’t be seen as ‘low risk’ by default and can absolutely benefit from risk assessment being performed as early as possible.”
Awareness and Risk Factors for Younger Women
Dr. Destounis advised that younger patients should be encouraged to monitor breast changes and begin screening in specific situations.
“Those with a strong family history or genetic mutation, as well as certain minorities and ethnic backgrounds, are at higher risk for breast cancer at a younger age,” she said.
Age Alone Is Not Enough for Screening Decisions
She added that the study reinforces an important point: breast cancer in younger women is not uncommon, and cases in this group are often more serious.
“We can’t rely only on age alone to decide who should be screened,” she said. “Paying closer attention to personal and family history, and possibly screening earlier for some women, could help detect these cancers sooner.”