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
2023-08-25
31
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] Patients who suffer the motor neurone disease usually_____.
选项
A、are physically and mentally inactive
B、are deprived of the ability to move
C、get their immune system damaged
D、cannot do without a wheelchair
答案
B
解析
原文该句中的control movement和locked等词表明患上运动神经元疾病的病人就会丧失活动的能力,这一点从该段最后一句提到的关于Stephen Hawking的例子可以加以证实,因此本题应选B。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/2955717.html
相关试题推荐
Janewasindilemmaasto______(是否接受他的求婚).whethertoaccepthisproposalofmar
Postgraduatedilemmas[A]Decidingwhetherornotto
Postgraduatedilemmas[A]Decidingwhetherornotto
Postgraduatedilemmas[A]Decidingwhetherornotto
Postgraduatedilemmas[A]Decidingwhetherornotto
Postgraduatedilemmas[A]Decidingwhetherornotto
[originaltext]M:Doyouknowwhetherourhealthinsurancecoversexpensesford
[originaltext]M:Doyouknowwhetherourhealthinsurancecoversexpensesford
[originaltext]M:Doyouknowwhetherourhealthinsurancecoversexpensesford
AmazinglyfortheBritish,wholovequeues,thereisnoformalline-up—theb
随机试题
Onceuponatimeapoorfarmertakingasackofwheattothemilldidnotkn
《洛神赋》的作者是()A.王粲 B.曹丕 C.曹植 D.曹操
某服务器软件系统对可用性(Availability)和性能(Performanc
A.大黄 B.芒硝 C.番泻叶 D.芦根 E.火麻仁具有逐瘀通经功效的药
病毒、蓝藻和酵母菊都具有的结构或物质是()。A.细胞壁 B.细胞膜 C.
案例: 阅读下面的作文题目和学生作文。 【作文题目】 请以“冬已至”为题,
管理职能可由不同的职能部门承担,( )负责跟踪和提出有关进度的问题。A:施工协
从四个图中选出唯一的一项,填入问号处,使其呈现一定的规律性: A.如上图所示
大脑顶叶靠近中央沟的部位是()。多选A.中央前回 B.中央后回 C.躯
下列关于登记性误差的说法,正确的是( )。A.登记性误差主要是指在用样本数据进
最新回复
(
0
)