Australian scientists have made a breakthrough in endometriosis research. This is a chronic condition in which the mucous membrane is outside the uterus, causing women to suffer from heavy periods, abdominal pain, fatigue and infertility. About half a million women in the Netherlands suffer from endometriosis.
The Australian researchers cultured different types of tissue on which they tested treatments. This enabled them to see for the first time which treatment is best for patients.
More good news from the medical world. New research has found that colchicine, an anti-gout drug, may also help osteoarthritis patients.
The age-old medicine reduces the chance that a hip or knee needs to be replaced. An additional advantage is that colchicine is not expensive.
A surprising solution to a problem was also found in other branches of science this week. Mussels appear to be able to eat and excrete microplastics. That could be good news for the oceans.
Here’s the thing: there are trillions of tiny particles of plastic floating in the ocean and they are harmful to life. Researchers have now discovered that mussels can absorb those small particles. The molluscs also excrete them, but the plastic particles are easier to clean up if they lie in poop on the bottom than if they float in the sea.
You still have to find a good way to clean up the poop.
Thursday was the sixteenth time that participants of the Alpe d’HuZes have climbed the French mountain Alpe d’Huez. The five thousand participants did this by cycling, running or walking and a maximum of six times. This year they managed to raise more than 17 million euros.
“An amount to be proud of,” said the organization. In the last normal edition in 2019, 11.8 million euros were raised. More than 313 cancer studies have already been funded with the more than 208 million euros raised by all editions.
And there was even more good news this week. Among other things, these messages, with big or small news, gave us a smile at the editor:
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