Latest news with #UHCW
Times
26-06-2025
- Health
- Times
Test could identify women at increased risk of miscarriage
British scientists have developed a test that detects abnormalities in the womb lining, which could help identify women with an increased risk of suffering a miscarriage. It is hoped it will pave the way for more treatments to prevent repeated pregnancy losses. About one in six pregnancies are lost and the majority of these happen before 12 weeks. Each miscarriage increases the risk of another occurring. Charities said that the findings could help to provide an explanation for repeated miscarriages. According to the team from Warwick University, in some women the womb lining does not react as it should during pregnancy. The test they developed can measure signs of a healthy or defective reaction in the womb lining. It is now being piloted to help more than a thousand patients at Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW).Dr Jo Muter, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Warwick Medical School, told the BBC: 'Many women are told they've just had 'bad luck', but our findings show that the womb itself may be setting the stage for pregnancy loss, even before conception takes place.'Much of the research in this area has focused on the embryo, rather than the womb hosting it. The womb lining during pregnancy undergoes a reaction, which converts the cells to a more supportive state. In cases where this does not happen or this reaction is faulty, the risk of bleeding and pregnancy loss increases. When a faulty reaction occurs, it is more likely to occur again, according to the research team. Dr Jyotsna Vohra, director of research at Tommy's, said that care and treatment for those who experienced pregnancy or baby loss varied unacceptably across the UK. 'There should be no barriers to accessing any test or treatment that has been proven to make a difference. 'We hope NHS decision-makers will look carefully at the results of the Coventry pilot project and consider rolling this test out nationwide, so that everyone who might benefit has that opportunity.' Vohra said that women suffering trauma after recurrent miscarriages were often 'left without answers', and that the test could offer some consolation by explaining the cause. The Warwick team analysed around 1,500 biopsies from more than 1,300 women for the study. Abnormal responses in the menstrual lining recurred across menstrual cycles for some women, suggesting a consistent cause of miscarriage risk which could be prevented. One of the women offered the new test, Holly Milkouris, said that it was 'life-changing' after she suffered five miscarriages. After the problems affecting her womb lining were detected and treated, Milkouris and her husband had two healthy children, now aged three and 17 months. Milkouris told The Guardian: 'We felt lost and were beginning to accept that I might never successfully carry a pregnancy. 'The treatments that typically can help women who have experienced miscarriages hadn't worked for us and each time we tried again we felt like we were rolling a dice with the baby's life. 'For the first time the results of my biopsy were normal, and we went on to have not one, but two successful pregnancies.'Muter said that the next step would be to use the test to assess potential drug treatments. Sitagliptin, a drug usually used to treat diabetes, is currently the go-to option for problems with the womb lining but Muter said that other existing drugs could be repurposed. Only 20 per cent of potential drugs are currently tested on pregnant women.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New womb lining test can help women who have miscarriages, UK scientists say
A new test that reveals an abnormal womb lining can help women who have repeated unexplained miscarriages, UK scientists have said. They say the findings are set to pave the way for new treatments for some women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss. Researchers said they discovered that miscarriage risk can be traced back to a problem with the womb lining before pregnancy, after previous studies mostly focused on the quality of the embryo, overlooking the role of the womb. Around one in six pregnancies are lost, mostly before 12 weeks, and each miscarriage increases the risk of another pregnancy loss. Pregnancy and baby charity Tommy's said the discoveries are set to provide explanations for pregnancy loss as well as treatments to prevent the 'trauma and devastation of recurrent miscarriage'. Lead author Dr Joanne Muter said: 'This is about identifying preventable miscarriages. Many women are told they've just had 'bad luck', but our findings show that the womb itself may be setting the stage for pregnancy loss, even before conception takes place.' The study – led by the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust with funding from pregnancy charity Tommy's – was published in Science Advances on Thursday, after over 1,500 biopsies from more than 1,300 women were analysed. The team found that an essential biological process called the 'decidual reaction', which prepares the womb lining for pregnancy each month, often does not progress properly in women with a history of miscarriage. This creates an unstable environment that, while still allowing embryos to implant, increases the risk of bleeding and early pregnancy loss. The scientists have consequently developed a test that can measure the womb lining response, which is being piloted to support more than 1,000 patients at Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research at UHCW. Senior author Professor Jan Brosens said: 'It is well-established that chromosomal errors in embryos account for the rise in miscarriage rates in women older than 35 years. This study shows that each miscarriage increases the risk of an embryo implantation in an abnormal womb lining, regardless of age. 'Thus, the frequency of one of two events – abnormal embryo or abnormal decidual reaction – happening over hundreds of menstrual cycles determines the likelihood of miscarriage in each individual woman. Importantly, we now have the tools to screen for the risk of preventable miscarriage and to evaluate treatments that improve the womb lining before pregnancy.' Holly Milikouris, who has had five miscarriages, described the new test as 'life changing'. After it was revealed that her womb lining prepared abnormally for pregnancy, she underwent treatment and went on to have two healthy children, three-year-old George and 17-month-old Heidi, with her husband Chris. Ms Milikouris, a civil servant from Cheshire, said: 'My miscarriages were all 'missed', which means there were no symptoms to let us know there was a problem. We found out when I went for a scan and a grew to dread having scans. 'We felt lost and were beginning to accept that I might never successfully carry a pregnancy. The treatments that typically can help women who have experienced miscarriages hadn't worked for us and each time we tried again we felt like we were rolling a dice with the baby's life. 'Being given the opportunity to take part in this trial was life changing. For the first time the results of my biopsy were normal, and we went on to have not one, but two successful pregnancies. We will never be able to thank Professor Brosens enough and are hopeful that the results of this groundbreaking study will help many other families.'
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Personalised hip replacements developed by Coventry NHS Trust
Personalised hip replacements will help patients turn back time, a surgeon has said.A team at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust are using computer models to rebuild a patient's hip so it can move in the same way it did before sugery was Steve Price has already had a hip replaced but now needs the other one doing. Prof Richard King from the NHS trust said the technology will "turn back time" for people like Mr Price, who currently has trouble putting on his socks. "What we're trying to do is reverse engineer the patient's hip back to how it was before they got arthritis," he said. According to the NHS, osteoarthritis is the leading cause of hip replacements. Mr Price said his job meant he still had to walk 10 miles (16.1km) a day despite waiting for his hip replacement. "It stopped my sport for a while, but it's the more mundane things in life that catch you out," he said. "Simply putting a sock on became a real problem." Medical teams previously relied on already sophisticated technology such as lasers and 3D-printers. Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) is working with the hospital trust, using reflectors and sophisticated cameras, to capture all the ranges of patient's hip motion and create the computer models. Dr Arnab Palit from WMG said the technology meant it was possible to simulate different activities."You can then mimic what the patient used to do and identify their range of motion when their hip was good."Prof King added it was important for each replacement to be personalised as everybody's hip moved differently. The use of computer simulations mean we are able to make sure the replacement will move in the same way as the patient's real hip, he said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New Coventry hospital unit aims for faster patient treatment
Patients with severe intestinal failure will receive quicker treatment, following the opening of a new specialist unit at a unit, at University Hospital, Coventry, is staffed by specialists who will assess and treat patients with help from the wider nutrition team. It is the first of its kind at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS is hoped the unit would prevent patients with intestinal failure and complex gastrointestinal illness going to A&E, and avoid unnecessary admission to unit was opened by 75 year-old patient Sylvia Wyer, who described it as a "brilliant advancement". Mrs Wyer has been receiving treatment from the nutrition team at the hospital for about 20 years, after she suffered intestinal failure. She has treatment via a catheter to maintain her nutrition and hydration, and prevent receiving this treatment can often become very ill and, previously, if they had a problem would have had to attend A&E and be admitted to a ward. "If I have an issue, I can ring the team and they can bring me to the unit, so it's a better service for people with parenteral nutrition," Mrs Wyer said."It's a great advancement for the patients and they will benefit from it – it's brilliant."Dr Dana Ismail, lead for clinical nutrition and intestinal failure, said the unit's opening concluded years of work to continuously develop and improve the service."This unit will deliver excellent service for patients with swift assessment and management by expert staff, to bypass the front door and avoid unnecessary admissions," he said. "It's about treating the right patient in the right place at the right time." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Baby dies after just nine days as mum's womb 'divides into two halves'
A mother has been left heartbroken after her baby died at just nine days old after her womb was "divided in two" due to a rare condition. Charlie Hughes delivered Bryn at 27-weeks after her womb was split by a wall of muscle due to a condition known as 'septate uterus'. This caused complications which led to the 33-year-old undergoing a C-section. Bryn was born on April 27 2024 and his health began to improve until sepsis hit - and Charlie and her husband, Gareth, tragically had to say goodbye to their little boy after just nine days. Charlie, who works as an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor in Coventry, ran the London Marathon in honour of her son. She told the Mirror: "We promised Bryn on the night he died that we would carry on with all of life's adventures, and that we'd take him with us. The London Marathon is one of those adventures. He'll be with me every step of the way." Charlie ran the Marathon for pregnancy research charity Tommy's alongside her best friend Emily - and the pair have already raised over £6,000. She said: "I want people to know Bryn's name. I hope that by telling his story, it raises awareness of preterm birth and neonatal loss. "I also want more people to know about the amazing work Tommy's does and the difference it's making. They're at the cutting edge of preterm birth research. "Unfortunately there was nothing more that could be done for Bryn, but I do believe we're moving towards a place where things will be better." Charlie discovered early in her pregnancy that her womb was split into two halves by a wall of muscle, increasing her risk of premature birth. She received care from Professor Siobhan Quenby at the preterm prevention clinic at UHCW. Bryn was born via emergency Caesarean section at 27 weeks and three days after Charlie's waters broke and further complications arose. He received excellent care in the neonatal unit at UHCW, and despite a rocky start, his condition began to improve, giving his parents hope that he would soon be going home. However, Bryn tragically developed sepsis, which ultimately led to his passing at just nine days old. Charlie recalled: "We knew on the night he died that he wasn't going to make it. We were able to be with him, and our families got to meet him too." Charlie and her partner will always treasure the brief time they had with Bryn, saying: "We will always cherish those nine precious days with Bryn as his mum and dad." This experience has sparked a deep passion in Charlie to work towards saving the lives of babies like Bryn. She expressed her aspirations: "I'm extremely passionate about it. I'm hoping to do more myself in preterm birth research that's where I'm hoping my career will lead."
