New knee op using stem cells could stop arthritis and extend sporting careers

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Surgeons have designed a new operation which they hope could prevent the development of arthritis and extend sporting careers.
The procedure, which is currently being trialled at Southampton General Hospital, involves coating damaged cartilage with stem cells, taken from a patient’s own hip, and surgical glue.
If successful, it will regenerate the remaining tissue and create a permanent 'like-for-like' replacement for the first time.

Surgeons at University Hospital Southampton have pioneered a new operation to treat knee injuries, which they hope will extend sporting careers. Argentinian striker Luis Suarez had an operation to remove his damaged meniscus, part of the cartilage in the knee, prior to the World Cup

Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissue that covers the surface of joints and enables bones to slide over one another while reducing friction and acting as a shock absorber.
Damage to the tissue in the knee is common and occurs mainly following sudden twists or direct blows, such as falls or heavy tackles playing sports such as football and rugby, but can also develop over time through gradual wear and tear.

Around 10,000 people a year in the UK suffer cartilage damage serious enough to require treatment due to pain, 'locking' and reduced flexibility. 
If left untreated, it can progress to arthritis and severely impair leg movement.
Uruguay footballer Luis Suarez had an operation to remove damaged meniscus, a type of cartilage, from his left knee.

HOW IS THE NEW KNEE OP DONE?

Patients who undergo the Abicus operation first have the cartilage cut and tidied and undergo a technique called microfracture.
This involves trimming any remaining damaged tissue and drilling holes in the bone beneath the defect via keyhole surgery.
The cartilage tissue is then coated with a substance made up of bone marrow cells, platelet gel and hyaluronic acid.
During the 30-minute procedure, the bone marrow sample is spun in a centrifuge in the operating theatre to give a concentrated amount of the patient’s own stem cells.
These cells are then mixed with the gel and acid to create a 'glue' substance which is placed over the cartilage defect and allowed to set.

The controversial Liverpool striker, 27, felt pain in his knee during training with his international squad in Montevideo in May.
Other sports stars known to have suffered knee injuries include rugby player Jonny Wilkinson, as well as footballers Paul Gascoigne, Alan Shearer and Ronaldo.
The new surgical technique is known as Abicus  - Autologous Bone Marrow Implantation of Cells University Hospital Southampton.


Gorav Datta, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Southampton General Hospital and lead researcher, said: 'The development of this technique and the study we are conducting could revolutionise the treatment of common cartilage injury by creating a like-for-like, identical cartilage replacement for the first time.
'So far, treatments developed to combat the long-term problems associated with cartilage damage have had varied outcomes, resulting in knee pain for many people in older age and shortened careers for many amateur and professional sports players.'
Mr Datta added: 'At present, although the removal of damaged cartilage and microfracture surgery can provide a short-term solution, the chances, particularly for sports players, of developing arthritis in later life or requiring ongoing treatment remain high.'
Currently, the most commonly used procedure to repair the injury - microfracture - involves trimming any remaining damaged tissue and drilling holes in the bone beneath the defect via keyhole surgery to promote bleeding and scar tissue to work as a substitute.

The procedure involves involves coating damaged cartilage with stem cells, taken from a patient's own hip. If successful it will then regenerate creating a permanent replacement. Right, shows an image of inflamed cartilage in a knee joint

However, the technique has variable results, with studies in the U.S. suggesting the procedure offers only a short term benefit (the first 24 months after surgery), and does not lead to the formation of new cartilage.
Patients who undergo the Abicus operation have the cartilage cut and tidied and undergo microfracture, but their cartilage tissue is then coated with a substance made up of bone marrow cells, platelet gel and hyaluronic acid.
During the 30-minute procedure, the bone marrow sample is spun in a centrifuge in the operating theatre to give a concentrated amount of the patient’s own stem cells.
These cells are then mixed with the gel and acid to create a 'glue' substance which is placed over the cartilage defect and allowed to set.
The study at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust will compare the results of 40 patients aged between 18 and 65 years, half of whom will undergo Abicus and half microfracture alone.

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SEVEN hours of sleep is the best - and more than eight is 'hazardous' to health'

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In an age where we're busier than ever and bombarded with information 24/7, many of us complain we don't get enough sleep.

But getting too much shut-eye could actually be bad for your health, an expert has warned.

'The lowest mortality and morbidity is with seven hours,' says Shawn Youngstedt, a professor at Arizona State University Phoenix who studies sleep duration.

Rest: Seven hours of sleep is the best amount for your health - and more could be harmful, a sleep expert has declared

'But eight hours or more has consistently been shown to be hazardous,' he told the Wall Street Journal.

Just last month a study of almost 9,000 people found those aged 50 to 64 who slept for less than six hours a night - or more than eight - had worse memories and decision-making abilities.

But brain power was only reduced for older adults of 65 to 89 if they slept too long, say the University of Warwick researchers.

Recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine adds to the argument we may not need as much sleep as we think, writes WSJ journalist Sumathi Reddy.

When five adults lived for two months in 'Stone Age-like conditions' - no clocks, electricity or running water - they got on average 1.5 hours extra sleep than usual and fell asleep two hours earlier.

But they still only averaged 7.2 hours a night, he writes.

Despite many of us believing we are chronically sleep deprived, most of us are getting 'more than we strictly need'

And most of us are probably getting more sleep than we strictly need - we've just convinced ourselves we're sleep deprived, says sleep neuroscientist Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University. 
He believes that far from us all being exhausted, 'things have never been better'.
Unlike the typical worker from 150 years ago, who toiled for 14 hours a day, six days a week and went home to a crowded, flea-infested bed, most of us sleep perfectly adequately.
There have been several large studies over the past 40 years into how much sleep people actually get. The findings show that the average healthy adult sleeps for seven to seven-and-a-half hours a night.
Professor Horne, author of the book 'Sleepfaring  -  A Journey Through The Science Of Sleep', adds the much-repeated 'fact' that our ancestors used to sleep around nine hours is a myth.
He says it 1913 study by researchers in California, which found that children aged eight to 17 slept for this amount of time.
'There is a lot of fear-mongering about the so-called dangers of lack of sleep  -  but, in fact, the biggest danger of not having adequate sleep is having an accident, such as falling asleep at the wheel of a car.'
And which sex needs more sleep? Women - because their brains need more time to recover from the wealth of multi-tasking they do each day.
The Duke University scientists, in North Carolina, found women who are sleep deprived often suffer from depression and become angry.

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Early puberty could increase a girl's chance of diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer, scientists warn

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The age at which a girl reaches puberty could determine her risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or breast cancer, scientists believe

The age at which a girl reaches puberty could affect her risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer later in life, scientists believe.
A new study carried out at the University of Cambridge has found the age at which a girl reaches sexual maturity is determined by which parent they inherit specific genes from.
Imprinted genes are a set inherited from just one parent, and as such their activity differs depending on which parent passes the gene on.
And the discovery could pave the way for genetic studies into the links between puberty and the likelihood of developing a range of disease later in life, the researchers said.
Dr John Perry at the Medical Research Council (MRC) epidemiology unit at Cambridge said: 'Normally, our inherited physical characteristics reflect a roughly average combination of our parents’ genomes, but imprinted genes place unequal weight on the influence of either the mother’s or the father’s genes.
'Our findings imply that in a family, one parent may more profoundly affect puberty timing in their daughters than the other parent.'

'We knew that some imprinted genes control antenatal growth and development - but there is increasing interest in the possibility that imprinted genes may also control childhood maturation and later life outcomes, including disease risks.'
The discovery was made by studying more than 180,000 women and their DNA to find out which genetic variations determined when a girl reaches sexual maturity.
Researchers identified 123 genetic variations that were associated with the timing of when girls experienced their first menstrual cycle. Six of these variants were found to be clustered within imprinted regions of the genome.

The study published in the journal Nature found the activity of imprinted genes differs depending on which parent the gene is inherited from - some genes are only active when inherited from the mother, others are only active when inherited from the father.
Both types of imprinted genes were identified as determining puberty timing in girls, indicating a possible biological conflict between the parents over their child’s rate of development.
Further evidence for the parental imbalance in inheritance patterns was obtained by analysing the association between these imprinted genes and timing of puberty in a study of over 35,000 women in Iceland.

Researchers studied the DNA from more than 180,000 women, and determined the age at which girls reach sexual maturity is dependent on which parent they inherit specific genes from. They believe the study could pave the way for further analysis of the link between puberty and various diseases

Senior author and paediatrician Dr Ken Ong at the MRC epidemiology unit said scientists could use the study into imprinted genes to find out how they might affect a girl’s development in later life.
'There is a remarkably wide diversity in puberty timing - some girls start at age 8 and others at 13, Dr Ong said.
'While lifestyle factors such as nutrition and physical activity do play a role, our findings reveal a wide and complex network of genetic factors.
'We are studying these factors to understand how early puberty in girls is linked to higher risks of developing diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer in later life - and to hopefully one day break this link,' he said.
Dr Anna Murray, a co-author from the University of Exeter Medical School, added: 'We found that there are hundreds of genes involved in puberty timing, including 29 involved in the production and functioning of hormones, which has increased our knowledge of the biological processes that are involved, in both girls and boys.'

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Mother left fighting for her life after doctors tore her bowel during routine operation

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Michele Price, 47, was left in a coma after routine surgery to investigate pelvic pain went horribly wrong

A woman admitted to hospital for keyhole surgery was left fighting for life after doctors accidentally tore her bowel.

Michele Price was admitted to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham to have her pelvic pain investigated.

The 47-year-old went home the same day but was rushed back to hospital early the next morning, suffering from severe abdominal pain and vomiting.

A CT scan performed two days later revealed her bowel had been sliced open and fluid was leaking into the rest of her body.

Further exploratory surgery then confirmed she had two holes in her bowel.

Doctors removed a section of her intestines and flushed out as much as the infection as they could.

But they were forced to leave her stomach open for two days in an attempt to avoid Ms Price needing a stoma bag fitted.

The mother-of-two then required further surgery two days later to re-attach her bowel and have her stomach sewn up.

But medics were forced to leave her in an induced coma for five days to help fight the infection which had caused her organs fail.

Ms Price was eventually discharged from hospital two weeks later - but has been left with horrific scars all down her stomach.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has now apologised and Mrs Price's solictors have secured an admission of liability from the Trust and Secretary of State for Health, paving the way for a settlement to be reached.

Ms Price, who lives in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, with her fiance Stephen Harcourt, 47, and daughter Leah Price, 14, said: 'My life has been turned upside down following my horrific ordeal.

'My original surgery was keyhole surgery which is designed to be minimally invasive and leave little, to no, scarring.

'It was meant to be a routine procedure I went into hospital for, but instead I was left fighting for my life.

'The scarring on my stomach is horrendous and I am incredibly self-conscious of it.

'I feel truly let down by staff as I suffered so many needless complications and my life has been devastated as a result.'

After being discharged from hospital, Ms Price's hair fell out because stress and amount of medication she was on.

Ms Price with fiance Stephen and daughter Leah. She says the trauma of the botched surgery made her hair fall out and forced her to give up work

'It was coming out in clumps, it was really a mess and looked like a patchwork quilt - so in the end, I shaved it off and was forced to buy wigs.'

Ms Price was also forced to close down her cleaning business after her ordeal.

She added: 'I am pleased that with the help of my legal team that the Trust has finally made an admission of liability for what happened to me.

'I just hope that this paves the way to the conclusion of the legal proceedings so that I can try to start to put my life back together.'

Medical law experts at Irwin Mitchell found a host of errors had been made during the surgery on August 9, 2011, which had led to the bowel perforating.

It is claimed that staff failed to appreciate that a perforation was the likely cause of Ms Prices's symptoms  - and did not perform an immediate CT scan on her readmission the next day.

Following the initial keyhold procedure, she was also treated by junior doctors who failed to detect peritonitis, multi-organ failure, abscesses, scarring and an incisional hernia.

Tests carried out when Ms Price was severely ill after surgery revealed her bowel had been sliced open and fluid was leaking into the rest of her body. She has been left with scars all down her stomach

Sarah Rowland, a specialist medical lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 'Michele suffered a truly horrendous ordeal in hospital following what should have been a simple and routine procedure with minimal recovery time.

'Instead she was left fighting for her life and needing further operations that have left her with extensive scarring - a permanent reminder of the horrific ordeal she has been through.'

Dr Stephen Fowlie, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'We reiterate our apologies to Ms Price and her family for the shortcomings in our care in 2011.

'Although Ms Price was reviewed by specialist registrars or consultants on each of the three days between her initial and second operation, we accepted our external expert’s view that senior review should have been more frequent. This lesson was shared with all staff in the department.

'Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has done considerable work in the last two years to improve recognition of deterioration in patients, and to speed-up escalation to senior doctors when it does occur.'

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I've ditched happy pills for flower power by Michelle Colins

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Actress Michelle Collins has overcome her personal problems by using natural therapies 

Actress Michelle Collins shot to fame in the BBC soap EastEnders as Cindy Beale – a woman who plotted to kill her cuckolded husband – and as barmaid Stella Price in ITV’s Coronation Street.

Her private life has famously been almost as turbulent as those of her on-screen personas.

Now, in a deeply personal and controversial confession, the 52-year-old argues that it is natural therapies – and not medication – that have helped  her overcome personal problems.

It would be wonderful if there really was a pill for every ill – a magic wand you could wave to make it all just go away. But there isn’t.  And yet more than ever it feels like that’s what many of us  are looking for.

Whether it’s drugs to control cholesterol or mood, or antibiotics swallowed at the first sign of the sniffles, more of us each year are taking medication – when in truth it’s our lifestyles that need looking at.

Mental health is a case in point: Last year, 50 million prescriptions for antidepressants were handed out. Of course, many of these will have been vitally necessary. But the fact that the figure rises every year makes me think many people are being given happy pills when other methods of tackling their problems might be just as effective.

Before you throw this newspaper across the room, accusing me of being utterly judgmental, let me say that I speak from personal experience. I have dealt with tougher times. And as someone who has been on antidepressants, I have strong feelings on the subject.

I know it will seem controversial to some, but I am a big advocate of using alternative therapies to overcome the stressful and upsetting elements of our lives.

That can mean exercise, or chatting it through with a supportive friend or therapist, or actually looking at complementary and alternative medicine. Personally, I am a wholehearted believer in the power of homeopathy.

I know many people don’t agree but I am pleased it’s available on the NHS and think that availability should even be extended – more information should be given to patients about alternatives to mainstream medicine.

It’s important to listen to your mind and body – and the fact  that strong medicines aren’t right for me is something I’ve learned from experience.

My life has been a bit difficult at times, and I’ve always been quite open about it. Even though I don’t want to dwell on the past, I feel it’s important to share problems that are often difficult to discuss. My hope is that doing so might make it easier for others.

Remedies: Michelle (right) gave her daughter Maia natural medicine as a young child 

The crunch point for me was when I landed a job in the West End show Daddy Cool several years ago. I  suffered an anxiety attack and was prescribed medication.

I was already at a low ebb and found theatre was out of my comfort zone. I’d never appeared in a musical before and, as my friends can tell you, I can be very hard on myself at times.

The thing is that, despite people often telling me that I come across as confident and extroverted, I am painfully shy.

As an actor, you can hide behind the character you’re playing, which is what I managed to do in EastEnders and Coronation Street. But the reality is that I can make myself ill with stress when I land a new role because I tend to rehearse to the point of obsession.

The night before the Daddy Cool rehearsals started, I was extremely anxious and slept terribly.

On the day itself, while getting ready to go to the theatre, I had an overwhelming desire to just run away. There was a powerful voice in my head saying: ‘You can’t do it.’

I didn’t get palpitations or pins and needles or other things people  feel with panic attacks, but I  did start to shake. My hands were trembling and it felt like my legs were going to give way. It passed after about 20 minutes, but I  was absolutely terrified – I didn’t go to the rehearsal, and went to the doctor instead.

He suggested a course of antidepressants. Was I depressed? I don’t know. But I wasn’t offered an alternative, so I thought I should say yes. I needed a quick fix and started taking the pills immediately.

I managed to continue with the show but they just didn’t agree with me at all. I felt sick, dizzy and confused, like I was having some kind of bizarre out-of-body experience. So I stopped taking them after only a couple of weeks.

Anxiety: Michelle as Eastenders' Cindy Beale in 1998. She conquered shyness by hiding behind the character 

It was then that I decided to take matters into my own hands. I sought out alternative remedies like acupuncture and reiki massage, a type of energy healing.

To reduce my stress levels I took up yoga, meditation and Pilates.  And a friend suggested that I take gelsemium, a homeopathic anxiety remedy – made from a flower – that you can pick up from most chemists.

I wasn’t totally new to these things, having given my daughter Maia some natural therapies when she suffered a lot of sore throats as a child. But the gelsemium really worked and I decided to book a  session with a homeopathic doctor near my home in North London. It was a revelation. A consultation will typically last an hour or longer.

After discussing your primary reason for being there, you’ll explore other areas of your life, your attitudes and even the sensations you feel at certain times – such as whether you have hot or cold feet in bed at night. It sounds bizarre, but by doing all this investigative work, a homeopath is able to build up a treatment plan targeted specifically at you. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.

I don’t want to say too much about what I was advised or took as it could be completely different for another person, but I can say that, from the word go, I felt cared for in a way I never had before. Along with the remedies, I was advised on diet – you can’t eat salt or use a mint toothpaste, for instance, as strong flavours can affect the homeopathic pills.

It’s just another example of the attentiveness involved.

I found that it was a turning point for me. I am now appearing in a play called The Glass Supper at the Hampstead Theatre and I make sure to take my remedies each night.

Of course I still get tetchy and stressed before I go on stage – and I am probably not nice to be around – but it’s nothing compared to how I was before.

 

'I've done my stint.' Michelle Collins on leaving Rovers Return

Since going down the homeopathic route, I am much healthier than I used to be.

I take more care of my health, both mind and body, and make sure I’m eating well.

I sleep well, I have lots of energy, and the dizziness and stomach pains I once thought were part of everyday life have cleared.

Everyone has a busy lifestyle and is stressed and we are all looking  for someone or something to alleviate things. But it’s important to learn to step back and have some time to yourself: we don’t do that enough.

lFor more information see findahomeopath.org.uk. Ask Michelle a question on Facebook.com/HoWFMe this Tuesday at noon..

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HELP! Felix will not stop biting us

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THE PROBLEM

My 18-month-old son Felix has always been active, but for the past eight months when he lunges towards me, he bites.

He hasn’t drawn blood, yet, but he does leave bruises and teeth marks. He has also been biting children at nursery, and his sister Rosie, three, who obviously finds it upsetting.

It happens so quickly we don’t have the chance to move away. The first time I was so taken by surprise – and pain – that I let out a loud scream.

Teething problem: Normally affectionate, young Felix has been sinking his teeth into his mum Antonia 

He is ordinarily such a loving and affectionate little boy that I don’t believe he means any harm. Nonetheless, because it happens most days, I’ve now started to tense when he comes to me for a cuddle. I have read that biting can cause quite serious infections, so I feel this needs to be taken seriously.

THE ADVICE

THE CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr Amanda Gummer, director of parenting website Fundamentally Children, says: ‘Babies and toddlers have more sophisticated nerve endings in their lips and tongue than they do elsewhere, which is why they explore the world with their mouth. They have no sense of empathy but aren’t biting to be naughty. Nonetheless, their teeth are sharp and it hurts.

‘They quickly realise they get a reaction when they bite so they want to do it more. Babies crave attention, even if it’s negative. It makes them feel more powerful and in control.

‘Try not to scream. Simply say “no”, put him down and move away. He is too young for explanations but negative reinforcement will teach him to stop. It might take a few days or even weeks, but the more consistent you are, the quicker the results.

‘Biting can be seen as a normal developmental phase but as children get older they need to know it’s socially unacceptable. It will cause problems if it’s not addressed before starting school. Introducing concepts such as the naughty step could work if managed well.’

THE BABY GURU

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, author of BabyCalm, says: ‘Babies bite when they’re teething, bored or frustrated because they can’t express themselves. Sometimes it’s simply because it feels nice.

‘It’s either a stress reliever for Felix or he’s so overwhelmed with love for his mummy that he literally wants to eat you. Boys tend to do it more than girls, partly because they’re slower to learn language.

‘Biting is all part of learning. It’s completely normal and doesn’t signal a behavioural problem.

Scared: His mother has now started to tense when he approaches her 

‘You have to react strongly or he won’t know he’s done anything wrong. When he bites let out a exaggerated cry. If you say “Ow” loudly enough he’ll understand he’s hurt you. He won’t learn immediately – it may take six to ten weeks. Ignoring him will confuse him, and won’t take away his need to do it. Instead, find something that’s good for him to bite. Try wearing teething jewellery, which is made out of rubbery material made for babies’ teeth. After you’ve protested, try offering him that instead. If your bond with him is strong enough it will upset him that he’s upset you and he’ll stop.’

THE OLDER GENERATION

My mother Mary Hoyle, 67, says: ‘I can’t remember you or your brother biting when you were young, but I was a stay-at-home mother so you weren’t spending all day with other children. Perhaps it’s a habit he’s picked up from nursery, especially as he has bitten children while he was there.

‘Whatever the reason, he’s not an aggressive baby and it’s not malicious. I don’t think ignoring him is the answer – it seems like a punishment when he has done nothing wrong, while shrieking adds unnecessary drama. I’d say firmly, “No, Felix, you can’t bite Mummy. Give Mummy a kiss instead” and give him plenty of kisses so he understands what you mean.

‘In the meantime, wear thicker clothes so it doesn’t hurt as much. I’m sure this phase will be short-lived and it’s important he knows you still love him until it’s over.’

touch: Young children are said to bite because they have overly-sensitive nerve-endings in their lips and mouth

WHAT ANTONIA DID NEXT

Given that I was already screaming – albeit involuntarily – when Felix bit me I followed Sarah’s advice first and exaggerated my cry. But he seemed to think it was a game and erupted into giggles. After 15 attempts over three days I changed tack and walked away in silence instead. I did this for four days but it seemed to make Felix feel unfairly abandoned. He burst into tears, making me feel duty-bound to give him another cuddle – and get another bite.

In the end, I bit my lip so I didn’t scream, stuck to a simple ‘no’ and sat him on my knee for a few minutes so he felt secure but didn’t associate biting with playtime. It seemed to take away some of his excitement about biting – but didn’t stop it.

So I’ve become stricter. Now when Felix bites I tell him ‘no’ then put him in his cot and leave him for two minutes so he is no doubt that biting is unacceptable. This inevitably makes him cry but the message is getting through. He hasn’t bitten anyone for almost a week now and is hopefully learning that kissing and cuddling are better ways to communicate.

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Can this £5 scraper give you perfect skin?

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Until now, exfoliating has required taking countless products into the shower. From foot to body to face, each part needs a different formulation of scrub depending on how rough or delicate the skin.

Exfoliating is important to remove dead cells from the skin’s surface, as they can leave skin looking dull and dry. The older we get, the more our ability to shed old skin and produce new cells slows, so more debris accumulates and exfoliating becomes even more crucial.

Smooth operator: Clare tries out Le Edge

Most commonly, exfoliators are abrasive creams, known as scrubs — these contain small particles that remove cells mechanically or chemicals such as fruit acids that dissolve the dead skin cells.
Harsher products that can be used on the body — for example, the thighs and bottom — can’t be used on delicate areas of the face.

However, an Australian invention called Le Edge, presumably because of the dull metal blades that form an ‘edge’ that you draw along your skin, is available in Britain and is the first you can use all over.

Le Edge looks like a small car  de-icing tool. It’s inspired by an Ancient Roman curved metal bathing tool known as a strigil, which was used, before the existence of soap, to scrape oil, dirt and dead skin cells off the surface of the skin.

The idea is that stroking the skin with the metal edges — in whichever direction works best for you — scrapes away dead cells and residue left behind by creams and soaps, speeding up your skin’s natural renewal process and leaving behind nothing but a glowing complexion.

The makers claim it’s better than any other exfoliator because it can be deployed on every part of your body — including the face and neck — and as it’s used with just hot water there’s no need for expensive gels or creams.

What’s more, it costs as little as £5 from Amazon and lasts up to a year. In fact, Le Edge sounds almost too good to be true — so I decided to put it to the test for a week.

FACE

As a woman, the prospect of ‘shaving’ my face is bizarre — and as I drag Le Edge over my skin, the friction leaves it tingling. When my husband walks in on me using it he gives me a very odd look.

Unconvinced: Clare didn't notice much difference when she used Le Edge on her face

Over the years I’ve used plenty of grainy scrubs on my face, but sometimes find they’re too harsh. Hopefully, this will be more gentle.

To judge it fairly, I use Le Edge only on one side of my face and neck, putting it into action after I’ve used a cleanser and exfoliated with a scrub as usual on the left-hand side.

I experiment by gently dragging the tool downwards one day and upwards the next, but direction makes little difference.

The sensation isn’t unpleasant, but I don’t apply much pressure for fear of damaging my skin.

While the makers of Le Edge claim it ‘helps to reduce the size of pores naturally’, they don’t explain how and it doesn’t have much impact on mine, especially those around my nose, which is impossible to get to with the scraper as the angles are too tight.

One morning I forgo my cleanser as the aim of Le Edge is that you don’t need products but just warm water to soften and loosen dead skin cells. At the end of the day my face doesn’t feel any greasier than usual. If I’m honest, I haven’t noticed much difference.

Certainly, it hasn’t evened up my skin tone.

It doesn’t leave my skin looking red afterwards, though, which is a small saving grace, and perhaps it will work better when I try it elsewhere on the body.

EXFOLIATING POWER: 3/5

LEGS AND BOTTOM

Like so many 40-something women, I am cursed with dry, scaly skin on my shins and calves. With temperatures soaring I’d like to be able to get my legs out.

Body scrubs have no lasting impact: perhaps Le Edge can make a difference?

Holding the tool at the recommended 45 degree angle, I pull it up my lower right leg. Again I’m using it only on one side so I can compare results with a typical scrub on the other.

I use only water initially, which causes an odd dragging sensation. It’s more pleasant with a soapy lather, which I resort to after a couple of days, and makes the tool glide better. After using it around my lower leg I look at the base of the metal strips to see if a gratifying amount of dead skin and debris has collected, as other users claim. Disappointingly, there’s very little to see, but perhaps it’s been washed away. 

Good results: Clare was impressed with the effect of using Le Edge on her calves, thighs and buttocks

According to the instructions, using Le Edge ‘enhances the penetration and effectiveness of your other skin treatments’.

I rub body butter into both legs after showering and I’m surprised to find my right limb does feel and look smoother than the left. Later in the week I shave my legs and again notice the results are smoother on the leg that has been ‘Edged’. Used before shaving, Le Edge easily lifts ingrown hairs away from the skin.

Now for thighs and buttocks. My upper legs suffer from tiny rough spots that leave this area looking less than peachy. After a week of experimenting with Le Edge, these areas feel remarkably softer and look less patchy, too.

I read a review by a blogger who claims it’s useful for correcting fake tan mistakes. She’s right.

One morning I find there’s a large splodge of fake tan on the back of my left calf that I hadn’t massaged in properly. Sure enough, a minute or two of scraping at the area with Le Edge and it’s gone. I would also say that when I applied fake tan to both legs, the limb that I was Le Edging had a more even result.

EXFOLIATING POWER: 4/5  

Full marks: Clare was delighted by the results of using Le Edge on her arms

ARMS

For as long as I remember I have suffered from keratosis pilaris; dry pimply spots on my upper arms caused by an accumulation of dead skin that forms a plug blocking follicles or pores. They make me loath to wear sleeveless dresses.

While exfoliation is one of the recommended treatments for this problem, there’s a danger that with conventional scrubs you rub too hard and damage the skin. No creams I’ve tried before have worked, so I’ve given up.

It’s quick and easy to use the tool on this area and the dragging sensation is fine; perhaps because it’s fleshier than my lower legs.

I try different approaches — pulling Le Edge slowly over my skin some days and faster on others, and decide a slow action with medium pressure works best.

After two days the bumps are less prominent and by the end of the week the skin here is definitely softer, with no redness at all. I am thrilled and resolve to use this every day until I am bump-free.

EXFOLIATING POWER: 5/5

FEET

Thanks to having narrow feet, I have horrible hard patches on the tops of some of my toes and calluses on the balls of my feet from ill-fitting shoes rubbing.

I’d love to have soft, supple feet, but fear I’ll never experience such heights without a beautician visiting daily.

DID YOU KNOW?

We lose 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells a minute, or 1.8 to 2.5 million per hour

I struggle to use the tool on the soles of my feet as it’s unbearably ticklish. I just want the experience to end as quickly as possible.

The soles of my feet do feel slightly less rough, though it’s when I use Le Edge on the tops of my feet that I notice the most dead skin collecting. At the end of the week, my feet feel refreshed and look marginally improved.

EXFOLIATING POWER: 2/5

CONCLUSION

Many women — and men — swear by Le Edge for regular and effective exfoliation. There are reams of reviewers who say it’s replaced all their other exfoliating products.

It worked best on my arms and legs and it would be a great tool on holiday, when bodies are slathered in creams, and legs and armpits regularly shaved, as it would take the place of at least three bottles in your washbag.

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Helena Bonham Carter hits yoga class in her pyjamas

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Helena Bonham Carter wears baggy pyjama-style pants for Bikram yoga sessions 

Helena Bonham Carter’s stand-out style now extends  to her yoga classes.

The 48-year-old actress – known for eccentric roles including Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films – wears baggy pyjama-style pants for Bikram yoga sessions at the Fierce Grace Yoga Centre in London’s Primrose Hill.

A classmate says: ‘She wears baggy checked trousers that look like pyjamas and everyone else is in Lycra.’

However, Helena has caught the eye for another reason.

The friend added: ‘Helena is very flexible and has great balance, particularly at some of  the difficult moves such as the standing bow pose and a standing stick pose.’

The star fits two 90-minute classes a week into her  busy schedule.

The room at the Yoga Centre is heated to 40C and a small class works through a choreographed routine of 39 set poses.

Helena averages two to three movies a year and is making a new version of Through The Looking-Glass with  Johnny Depp.

A new weekly jab is set to offer hope to the 350,000 Britons with moderate to severe psoriasis. In trials, Secukinumab – which is due out early next year – outgunned rival drugs currently approved by NICE.

Dermatologists measure success in treating psoriasis if they can clear 75 per cent of the disease. Secukinumab, which is delivered by self-administered injections, achieved this in eight in ten cases compared to just four in ten using current treatments.

It will come as no surprise to hay fever sufferers that 87 per cent have reported sleepless nights, according to the charity Allergy UK. It tends to peak in July as for most people it is triggered by an allergic reaction to grass pollen.

Nearly 18 million people in the UK suffer from symptoms including sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, watering itchy eyes and dry or itchy throat and mouth. Medical advice is not to sleep with an open window, buy a fan – and to regularly take antihistamine medication.

Kiss your pain goodbye

It's an old adage, but it seems that you really can kiss things better.

Researchers studying acute pain relief gave volunteers a nasal spray containing a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin – which the body releases in response to affection – and then plunged their hands into freezing water.

In those who had the active spray, compared to those who were given a placebo, there was 12 per cent less pain.

Those participants who received oxytocin, in the study carried out at the University of Calgary, Canada, were also able to withstand the discomfort for longer.

Previous research has shown that oxytocin is naturally produced in increased amounts during kissing and cuddling.

A team from the University of North Carolina studied 38 couples, and found hugs that lasted for 20 seconds led to increased levels of oxytocin. They found that couples in loving relationships had the highest levels of the hormone.

Britons with an overactive bladder can control it  by eating chicken, according to a new study 

If you’re one of the millions of Britons with an overactive bladder, then changing your diet might be the key to controlling it. Hold the fizzy drinks, lose weight, eat chicken, and if you want a tipple, try a glass of Muscat or Riesling – according to a new study.

The embarrassing condition is linked to diabetes, infections, bladder stones and prostate problems, although in many cases  the cause is never found.

Researchers from King’s College Hospital found a reduced risk with higher consumption of vegetables, bread and chicken, but  high levels of saturated fat and protein  were linked to a higher likelihood of bladder problems.

Carbonated soft drinks were found to increase the risk while cranberry juice lowers it, as do higher intakes of Vitamin D, which we get mostly from sun exposure, and potassium, found in bananas. Overweight women were three times more likely to suffer.

The type of alcohol consumed may also be relevant: ‘Wines with lower alcohol content and higher sugar content such as a Muscat or late-harvest Riesling may cause less discomfort,’ said the researchers.

Remember the tamagotchi? Well, virtual pets are back and they’re encouraging children to get fit.

The LeapBand – the first wearable activity tracker for children aged four to seven – is a cross between an exercise band and a tamagotchi – the more active the child is, the more points they can earn for the virtual pet built into the wrist band.

Youngsters have to complete various activities such as Walking Like A Crab, Spinning Like A Helicopter and Popping Like Popcorn and with each burst of energy they can unlock additional games.

The £29.99 gadget doubles up as a watch and is launched next month.

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Want lustrous locks like Kate Beckinsale? Then give your scalp a daily facial

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The best tressed: Advice from celebrity hairstylists could mean you will look like Kate Beckinsale 

Most of the time, we don’t give it a second thought. It’s our hair that we notice, that bothers and perplexes us. Our scalp? Well, it’s just... there. But as hairdressers and trichologists – trained specialists who deal with hair problems – point out, the health of the scalp is fundamental to the look, feel and even the quantity of our hair.

Celebrity hairdresser Julien Farel (whose salons are responsible for the tumbling tresses of A-listers Kate Moss, Rachel Weisz and Kate Beckinsale) feels strongly about this: ‘In the same way that grass can’t grow in sand, hair can’t grow in an unhealthy scalp,’ he says. 

So how can you keep yours in optimum condition? The answer is to tend to it as assiduously as we do the skin on our faces.

The age-old problem

Scalp – and therefore hair – problems become more apparent as we get older. Farel explains: ‘As we age, our hair ages, too. With each passing year, our scalp and hair become more dehydrated while follicles become weaker. This leads to dryness, dullness, breakage and thinning.’

Dr Jeni Thomas, Principal Scientist for P&G (Procter & Gamble) Beauty, where for the past eight years she has focused her research on hair and scalp health, says: ‘At some point in their adult life, 50 per cent of adults will experience some form of scalp concern.’

‘A healthy scalp should look similar to healthy skin; flake-free, blemish-free, not overly oily and without redness or irritation,’ says leading trichologist Philip Kingsley. ‘Most people know if their scalp is unhealthy as it will be itchy, irritated and perhaps red, scaly or overly greasy, or both. You may also find small, raised pimples on the scalp.’

Don’t be a flake

Kingsley continues: ‘Research shows that a flaky or itchy scalp can trigger or worsen hair shedding in both men and women. Simply not washing your scalp regularly enough can allow for the build-up of flakes and an imbalance of micro-organisms – both of which can worsen, or trigger, hair loss. More severe scalp conditions, left untreated, such as psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis, can lead to hair breakage and secondary infection from scratching.

Get your head examined

If you think you might have a problem, a knowledgeable hairdresser can give you a first opinion. Many salons that stock Phyto, a specialist hair care range, have specialised magnifying cameras (see phyto-haircare.co.uk for your nearest one). Any diseases can be identified and treatment suggested.

Cleanse and moisturise

It’s the skincare mantra most of us apply to a regular face regime – but should also be used for our scalp. Firstly, take a look at what you’re washing your hair in: most shampoos contain foaming sulphate-based ingredients (commonly sodium lauryl sulphate, or SLS) which remove oil from the hair – but also from the scalp, which can end up dry and inflamed.

Look for shampoos free from SLS, such as Pureology (£11; pureology-uk.com) or branch out and try one of the many new ‘Conditioning Cleansers’ in the shops. As the brand Grow Gorgeous puts it, ‘smart girls don’t strip’, a reference to the way its conditioner (£17.99 at Boots) will get your hair and scalp clean without stripping out all the oil from it.

Julien Farel Anti-Ageing Haircare Hydrate Restore (£28, Selfridges.com) claims to hydrate and nourish rather like a face moisturiser.

For a more budget-conscious option try Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Cleansing Conditioner, which costs £5.99 for a big bottle at feelunique.com or Macadamia Oil Flawless (£8.75, lookfantastic.com).

Exfoliate, exfoliate...

Quality name: Luxury brand Kerastase offers a range of hair 'Rituals': treatments designed to nurture the hair and scalp, from £15

In the same way that we exfoliate our faces to get rid of dead cells that clutter up the surface and make skin look dull, it’s a great idea to exfoliate your scalp. At home, try a product such as Alterna Caviar Exfoliating Scalp Facial, £32 (01925 578000 for stockists) which you use before your normal shampoo to decongest your scalp (it’s gentle, so good even for sensitive-skinned scalps) or Philip Kingsley Exfoliating Scalp Mask, £16, www.philipkingsley.co.uk).

Try a hydrating ritual

Intensive hydrating treatments to cosset and soothe the scalp are increasingly popular. Luxury brand Kerastase offers a range of hair ‘Rituals’: treatments designed to nurture the hair and scalp, from £15 (kerastase.co.uk). 

At the Aveda Institute in Covent Garden, the Botanical Hair and Scalp Treatment (£60) combines massage with aromatherapy essential oils (avedainstitute.co.uk).

In salons such as Michaeljohn, the popular celeb-hairdresser in London’s West End (michaeljohn.co.uk), you can try a Nioxin Scalp Dermabrasion service  (from £15).

It is designed to regenerate the scalp skin surface and reduce hair-loss. The treatment removes excess oil that builds up around the hair follicle, helping to restore the scalp to its optimum condition.

Pick up a tonic

There is an array of scalp tonics on chemist shelves now. Choose one backed by clinical trials. Growth Factor Treatment Serum from  Nanogen (£29.95, nanogen.co.uk) is popular with dermatologists and hair-transplant surgeons. Another top-notch option is the new Tricho 7 Daily Scalp Drops in Philip  Kingsley’s Trichotherapy® kit (from £50 for the drops, £95 for the whole kit, philipkingsley.co.uk) which  support hair health and growth via the scalp.

 

Luxury brand Kerastase claims to 'nurture' the hair and scalp

Blitz the dandruff

Dandruff is the fault of a tiny organism called malassezia globosa, which we all have on our scalps and which feeds on sebum, the oil produced by our hair follicles – though we’re not all sensitive to it.

If you are sensitive to malassezia, your scalp becomes irritated and sheds skin faster than it should – seen as dandruff. A shampoo  containing zinc pyrithione (ZPT), such as Head & Shoulders, will do the trick nicely, which is why this is the top-selling shampoo around the world. Phyto produces the ‘decongesting’ Phytopolleine – a bracing mix of essential oils, £24.50, that will soon get clogged follicles  back to normal. If that doesn’t work, see a specialist. GPs don’t have any training in hair issues, surprisingly, but a trichologist could help you (trichologists.org.uk) as can a dermatologist who specialises in the scalp.

Dr David Fenton (drdavidfention.com) or Dr Jennifer Jones and Dr Vicky Joliffe (of londonhairspecialists.com) can help with problematic scalp issues.

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Heartbreaking moment father married his fiancee just hours before he died from a rare form of cancer

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A dad-of-two married his sweetheart at his hospital bed just hours before he passed away from a rare form of cancer.

Ian Tong, from Preston, Lancashire, married his fiancee Gemma, 28, from his bed at Blackpool Victoria Hospital where he was being treated for anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

The 31-year-old passed away in the early hours of Monday morning, after he was diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of April and had spent the last six weeks in hospital.

Ian and Gemma Tong married at his hospital bedside just hours before he passed away from lymphoma

The couple married in front of a handful of friends and family after Mr Tong 'took a bit of a bad turn'

Mr Tong pictured enjoying time with his sons Jamie and Jayden (left) and with the boys and wife Gemma (right)

The couple, who met through mutual friends, were married at 3.30am at his hospital bedside with just a handful of family and friends as witnesses.

Nursing staff helped the pair to arrange the last minute ceremony and even surprised the couple with a cake, card and decorations - including confetti made from aluminium foil.

Mrs Tong, who is mum to three-year-old Jayden and one-year-old Jamie, said: 'We went along to the hospital on Sunday but Ian had taken a bit of a bad turn.

'His lungs were failing and he had been having seizures, so the doctors told us to prepare for bad news. He was really struggling.

'The nurses knew we had decided to get married in hospital and they were absolutely amazing. They arranged everything for us.

'The look on Ian's face when he said his vows was amazing, it was like he had never been ill. He was so happy.

'It wasn't the wedding we had planned on having, but at the end of the day everyone I would have wanted there was there with us. It was a bit of a silver lining.

'I have to focus on Jayden and Jamie now. Jamie is so young that he doesn't have any idea what is happening.'

Mr Tong pictured swimming with dolphins - he was later diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma

The couple got engaged last March but Mr Tong was diagnosed in April this year following numerous tests

The 31-year-old passed away in hospital after the couple spent several years together. It was only one week before his death they discovered the chemotherapy was not working

'But Jayden has started to get a bit frustrated and upset. I had to explain to them that Daddy wasn't coming home.'

The couple got engaged last March, but decided that they would get married in hospital just one week before Ian passed away after his condition deteriorated.

She had dreamt of a big white wedding but said the ceremony was a silver lining and she would 'cherish those memories for the rest of her life'.

Mr Tong initially fell ill in November last year, but after numerous tests and visits to four different hospitals he was finally diagnosed with lymphoma on April 23 this year.

Doctors initially thought he had a viral infection but despite extensive testing it took five months for him to be given a firm diagnosis.

And it wasn't until after a lymphoma biopsy was carried out in April that they received the bad news.

Mrs Tong had dreamed of a big white wedding but would cherish the memories of their ceremony 'forever'

Her focus was now on caring for her sons - 3-year-old Jayden (left) and 1-year-old Jamie (right)

The former street light engineer began chemotherapy straight away and was treated as an outpatient - but after he became blighted by infections he was admitted to hospital.

The full-time mum said: 'Ian went through so much - he had so many tests and in the end had been at four different hospitals.

'They tested him for everything, he was constantly in and out of hospital.

'After all that time they hadn't done a lymphoma biopsy - thinking about it now that test should have been done sooner.

'And then it felt like it took forever for the results to come back, but the type of cancer Ian had was really rare.

'Some days Ian would be better than others, he even managed to make it back to work for four days.

'It was one week before he died when we found out that the chemo wasn't working. But the doctors told us there was one last thing we could try.

'It was a type of drug, and Ian had been due to have his first session the same day he died.'

As well as his wife and their two young sons, Mr Tong left behind his parents, two older brothers and two older sisters.

His heartbroken widow now wants to raise awareness for the type of lymphoma he suffered from, which accounts for just 3 per cent of all diagnosed lymphoma cases.

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How old is your body?

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Pensioners halve their odds of living another decade if they smoke, drink, eat little fruit and avoid exercise, a major study has found.

Researchers have created a groundbreaking 'health calculator' which 75-year-olds can use to show their chances of living to 85 - and some of it makes for grim reading.

It shows that 75-year-old men with the worst lifestyle habits have just a 35 per cent chance of living another decade, while those odds soar to 67 per cent for healthy people.

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Researchers have created a groundbreaking 'health calculator' which allows 75-year-olds to calculate their odds of living to 85 - with some rather stark results

For women, 75-year-olds who smoke, drink, eat little fruit and avoid exercise had a 45 per cent chance of living another decade - compared to 74 per cent for the healthiest women.

The long-term study of almost 17,000 people was carried out by researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

 

They asked participants key questions about four of life's biggest 'risk factors': whether they drank, smoked, did exercise and ate fruit.

The scientists' findings revealed a 75-year-old with a healthy lifestyle can have a better life expectancy than a 65-year-old with unhealthy habits.

And their figures were used to create a fascinating 'health calculator' - claimed to be the first of its kind - which the researchers say could become a vital tool for GPs.

The study found that those with unhealthy living habits - such as drinking and smoking - had just a 45 per cent chance of living another decade (file photo)

Eva Martin-Diener, one of the study's authors, said: 'The easy-to-understand overview boards will be able to assist physicians in the practices in health advice to their patients.

'They can also be important for the political discussion of prevention strategies for non-communicable diseases.'

Smoking had a far larger impact than the other three factors put together, the researchers found.

They said smokers in their group raised their risk of dying early by 57 per cent.

Poor nutrition, lack of exercise and alcohol abuse, meanwhile, raised the risk of early death by about 15 per cent.

The influence of the four factors 'remained visible when biological risk factors such as body weight and blood pressure were taken into account', the study said.

The research comes after a University of Essex study found pensioners could gain their exercise in unexpected ways - including the Nintendo Wii.

A report in March said the games console, which simulates sports like tennis, bowling and boxing, benefited those too frail to take part in conventional physiotherapy.

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Young women would rather Google their illnesses than see a GP (especially if it's something they think is embarrassing)

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For many young women, intimate health issues are the cause of much embarrassment.

In fact, young women are avoiding seeing their doctor altogether and instead relying on advice online, according to worrying new research.

The study found more than a third of 18 to 24 year olds now feel uncomfortable talking to their doctor about intimate health issues.

Online diagnosis: Many women feel more comfortable looking up their symptoms on the internet, than talking to a doctor

While 39 per cent said they would be unlikely to keep an appointment for such a condition if it was with a male GP.

Young women are three times more likely to be embarrassed talking to their GP than over-55s (26 per cent compared to nine per cent), found the research.

And as a result young women are most likely to self-diagnose online, which 92 per cent have done according to the research by women’s healthcare experts Balance Activ.

It seems taking to the internet is now the first port of call as increasing numbers hide their embarrassment behind technology.

More than half of young women (56 per cent) admit searching their condition online within 12 hours.

In contrast, just seven per cent would book an appointment with a healthcare professional in that time.

Indeed, on average it takes young women 22 days to go to see a doctor, nurse or other expert.

Ninety-two per cent of young people asked, admitted to online self-daignosis

And three quarters of young women who self-diagnose (76 per cent) rarely or never go on to buy medicine to treat their condition, potentially leaving conditions to linger on or worsen.

Dr Rosemary Leonard of Balance Activ said: 'Intimate health should not be an embarrassing issue.

'I would urge women of all ages to talk openly about this subject with friends, family or healthcare professionals to ensure they are getting the right advice and treatment.'

The study of 1,000 UK women also showed other ways in which the family doctor is falling out of favour with young adults.

It found that just 28 per cent of young women most trust a GP’s advice.

Yet despite their embarrassment about discussing the matter with their doctor only 24 per cent of 18-24s feel nervous about discussing it on an online forum.

Suggesting the anonymity is what makes them feel comfortable, 80 per cent want a website where advice is given by experts.

Younger women are also more hesitant to speak to family and friends about intimate health issues.

Two thirds cite embarrassment as the reason they wouldn’t ask friends or family for advice.

The over 55s are far less prudish with just 27 per cent feeling this way. Just 19 per cent of this age group would feel uncomfortable discussing intimate matters with their GP.

When younger women do seek advice it seems they are much more likely to do so covertly, with 10 per cent admit they have sought help by pretending they were asking ‘for a friend’.

Meanwhile 52 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds confess they would feel embarrassed or uncomfortable if a friend asked them for advice.

Dr Leonard added: 'Young women’s hesitation to talk about these issues could be why more than half of women don’t know about some very common conditions such as Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).

'BV is the most common vaginal condition, affecting one in three women, which can be caused by everyday things such as excessive washing or periods.

'It can have serious implications including putting you more at risk of catching an STI after unprotected sex, or increasing the risk of miscarriage or pre-term birth, so it’s essential to diagnose and treat it correctly.'

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