首页
登录
职称英语
British doctors are to launch a major clinical trial to investigate whether
British doctors are to launch a major clinical trial to investigate whether
游客
2023-08-15
62
管理
问题
British doctors are to launch a major clinical trial to investigate whether a common anti-depression drug could be a cheap and effective treatment for the destructive condition motor neurone (运动神经元) disease.
The trial, which is due to start in January, will follow more than 200 patients with motor neurone disease over 18 months to see if those given daily lithium pills live longer. Lithium is already licensed for treating depression and other mental disorders, and is extremely cheap, costing just 48p for a packet of 20 pills.
The £1m trial follows the publication in February of a small study by Italian researchers which suggested that lithium could slow the progression of the disease dramatically. The study sparked a surge of interest in the drug among online patient groups, and some doctors now offer lithium "off-label", despite widespread uncertainty as to whether it works.
Nigel Leigh, director of the motor neurone disease care centre at King’s College London, who will lead the trial said "It is our responsibility and duty to carry out this trial because we have to consider every lead seriously, and where there is real uncertainty, resolve it swiftly. The results of the Italian trial are too dramatic to ignore."
Motor neurone disease destroys nerves in the brain that control movement, leaving patients locked in a failing body. There is currently no cure and half die within 14 months of being diagnosed. In the UK, there are about 5,000 people with the condition. Stephen Hawking, the 66-year-old Cambridge physicist, was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease 45 years ago. He is now almost completely paralysed, although, as with most other patients, his mind remains active.
Doctors are unsure precisely how lithium works, but its effectiveness as an anti-depression treatment is thought to be linked to its ability to slow down electrical activity in brain cells.
Doctors are now recruiting patients who experienced their first symptoms of the disease within the past six months to three years. Results from the trial are expected within two years. It will be considered a success if patients who are given the drug live 20% longer than those who receive a placebo (安慰剂). "It would be very nice if we show lithium arrests the disease but we’re not expecting that. We’re hoping for a three- to six-month increase in lifespan over the 18-month trial," said Leigh.
If the drug is effective, it could be given to thousands of patients immediately. But doctors advised patients against taking it until the trial was over. Taken unsupervised, it could put them at risk of side-effects including confusion, kidney failure and damage to the thyroid gland (甲状腺), they warned. [br] Through the trial, the British doctors most expect to _____.
选项
A、heal motor neurone disease with lithium
B、enhance patients’ awareness of lithium
C、eliminate the side effects of lithium
D、prolong patients’ life with lithium
答案
D
解析
原文这两句都表明英国研究人员希望研究结果可以证明lithium可以帮助延长病人的寿命,因此本题应选D。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/2929428.html
相关试题推荐
Westerndoctorsarebeginningtounderstandwhattraditionalhealershaveal
Westerndoctorsarebeginningtounderstandwhattraditionalhealershaveal
Westerndoctorsarebeginningtounderstandwhattraditionalhealershaveal
Westerndoctorsarebeginningtounderstandwhattraditionalhealershaveal
DoctorsinBritainarewarningofanobesity(肥胖症)timebomb,whenchildrenwh
DoctorsinBritainarewarningofanobesity(肥胖症)timebomb,whenchildrenwh
DoctorsinBritainarewarningofanobesity(肥胖症)timebomb,whenchildrenwh
DoctorsinBritainarewarningofanobesity(肥胖症)timebomb,whenchildrenwh
DoctorsinBritainarewarningofanobesity(肥胖症)timebomb,whenchildrenwh
DoctorsinBritainarewarningofanobesity(肥胖症)timebomb,whenchildrenwh
随机试题
Economics[img]2014m9s/ct_etoefm_etoeflistz_0278_20149[/img][br]Accordingtot
Alltheroomsonthesecondfloorhavenicely______carpets,whichareincluded
A--BuyerBehaviorB--MarketSegmentationC--
下列有关PDCA循环的特点说法正确的是( )。A.阶梯式上升 B.关键环节在
春季角结膜炎的典型体征为A.大小一致的粗大乳头 B.粗大乳头伴有黄褐色或污红色
依评价主体的不同。医德评价可分为两种,它们是A.病人评价和家属评价 B.外在评
患者,女,75岁,已婚。1年前患脑梗死,治疗后未复发,近3天来患者表现情绪不稳,
患儿男性,8岁。近日时常出现排尿突然中断,哭诉阴茎头部疼痛,以手搓拉阴茎或跑跳后
患者,女,60岁。戴全口义齿1天,说话时有"哨音",其原因是A.基托后缘过长
下列选项中,不能作为工程计量依据的有()A.工程量清单及说明 B.合同图纸
最新回复
(
0
)