New Medical Treatment for PND

　　UK scientists have developed what's believed to be the world's first blood test for detecting post natal¹ depression or PND. [Photo: mlczyys.com/Agencies]

 

　　UK scientists have developed what's believed to be the world's first blood test for detecting post natal depression or PND. The ground-breaking research could lead to women getting expert medical help before they give birth. Li Dong has the details.

 

　　Rachael Dobson knows how devastating² post natal depression can be. She has suffered with it for three years, following the birth of her son Andreas.

 

　　The 24-year-old mother has now recovered - thanks to support from family and friends - but her journey was a tough one.

 

　　"I would sit there some days thinking that nothing could get any worse, I'm making it difficult for my husband, I'm not caring for my son like I'm meant to. So would it be easier if I just ended it? Would that solve it? I viewed it as if I'd done something and done that and ended it, then it would make it easier on my husband because he wouldn't have to come home, as well as looking after a baby, which he loved doing, he wouldn't have to contend with me sort of crying at him or shouting at him."

 

　　Rachael became so depressed³ that she even considered, for one terrifying moment, harming Andreas:

 

　　"I can remember him crying, absolutely loads, I think I tried every tip box in the book you could be possibly think of, feeding, winding⁴, changing his nappy and I just, because he wouldn't be quiet, I just started then to get thoughts of what if I smothered⁵ him, at least he would be quiet then and then I'll be able to sort myself out. But then, sort of within a split second, you're almost scared yourself, because how can you think that about a vulnerable baby."

 

　　Rachael is not alone. Up to 15 percent of women are reported to suffer from PND, but medics think this figure is likely to be a lot higher because many cases go unreported.

 

　　Medics are now keen to get to those at risk before they give birth.

 

　　Scientists at a laboratory in Britain have come up with a blood test to give women an indication of how likely they are to go on and develop depression.

 

　　Researchers have proven that a genetic⁶ variation can lead to mothers-to-be becoming up to five times more likely to suffer from PND.

 

　　Dimitris Grammatopoulos, Professor of Molecular⁷ Medicine and Consultant⁸ is working on the study.

 

　　"Clearly there is evidence that if you can identify women at risk early, you could be able to treat earlier, to give measures early, in order to prevent or stop the process of the disease."

 

　　His paper, which has been published by the Journal of Psychiatric Research, is based on a recent study of 200 pregnant women.

 

　　The research found that an overwhelming majority of women who went on to develop PND had at least one of two molecular signatures - variations in a person's DNA⁹ - which increase the risk of PND.

 

　　The study is far from complete. Grammatopoulos and his team are now recruiting around 1,500 volunteers for the next phase of their research. The aim is to have the blood test ready for use within five years.

 

　　For CRI, I am Li Dong.

1 natal   

adj.出生的，先天的

参考例句：

• Many music-lovers make pilgrimages to Mozart's natal place.很多爱好音乐的人去访问莫扎特的出生地。
• Since natal day,characters possess the visual elements such as dots and strokes.文字从诞生开始便具有了点画这样的视觉元素。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

4 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

5 smothered   

（使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制

参考例句：

• He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
• The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。

6 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

7 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

8 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

9 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。