QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

A study in PLOS Medicine shows HPV self-tests accurately identify women with cervical cancer or precancerous cells. About 40% of high-risk HPV group had severe cervical precancer or cancer, warranting colposcopy. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women 30+ can collect own vaginal samples for testing. Low-risk HPV group can retest after 12 months, while moderate-risk group should consult clinicians.

Japanese dentists are testing a drug to regrow teeth, potentially offering an alternative to dentures and implants. The drug aims to awaken dormant third-generation tooth buds, with initial trials focusing on patients born with missing teeth. The technology could extend healthy life expectancy, especially in Japan's aging population.

Japanese dentists are testing a drug to grow new teeth, potentially offering an alternative to dentures and implants. The drug aims to awaken dormant third-generation tooth buds, with initial trials focusing on patients with congenital tooth loss. If successful, this technology could revolutionize dental treatment.

Japanese dentists are testing a drug to regrow human teeth, potentially offering an alternative to dentures and implants. The drug aims to awaken dormant third-generation tooth buds by blocking the USAG-1 protein, as demonstrated in mice and ferrets. The research, led by Katsu Takahashi, focuses on patients with congenital tooth loss and could extend healthy life expectancy, especially in Japan's aging population.

A study from Karolinska Institutet and Queen Mary University of London published in PLOS Medicine suggests HPV self-tests can divide HPV-positive women into three risk groups, enhancing cervical cancer screening. The study, conducted in England, found 8.3% of 855 women with positive HPV self-tests had severe cervical precancer or cancer. Risk stratification, based on HPV type and virus amount, identified high-risk women needing immediate colposcopy, while low-risk women could be retested after 12 months. This method could benefit cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings.

African populations are underrepresented in genomic research, hindering precision medicine development. Despite challenges like funding and infrastructure, progress is being made in countries like South Africa and Uganda. Initiatives like H3Africa aim to improve genomic diversity and capacity in Africa, but significant barriers remain, including brain drain and lack of government support. Efforts to build infrastructure and knowledge are ongoing, with the hope of expanding access to precision medicine across the continent.

Updated long-term overall survival (OS) results from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial show pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy significantly improves OS and event-free survival (EFS) rates in high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, with 5-year OS rates of 86.6% vs 81.7% in the placebo arm.

The BEST4 trial, testing Medtronics' Cytosponge-TFF3 capsule sponge for Barrett's oesophagus screening, has enrolled its first patients. The trial aims to recruit 120,000 heartburn medication users over three years, with mobile vans conducting the 10-minute tests across England. The sponge collects oesophageal cells for TFF3 and altered p53 protein testing, potentially identifying oesophageal cancer. The study is led by Cambridge University Hospitals and the University of Cambridge, with Cancer Research UK funding.

The BEST4 Screening trial tests a 'pill-on-a-thread' for Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor to oesophageal cancer, aiming to reduce cancer treatments and deaths. Over three years, 120,000 heartburn medication users will be recruited in England via text message invitations. The capsule sponge test, developed by Cambridge University and Cancer Research UK, is faster, less invasive, and cheaper than endoscopy. The trial, backed by £6.4 million, seeks to prove the test's viability for nationwide screening.

Genetic factors causing lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution lead to early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asians, with quicker health complications and weaker medication responses, according to research from Queen Mary University of London published in *Nature Medicine*.