英國的科學傢們表示，一項簡單的皮膚拭子檢查可用來幫助診斷退化性大腦疾病帕金森病。對志願者的研究表明，該檢查能快速測出皮脂中顯示患病跡象的化合物，皮脂是一種保護皮膚的油性物質。
There are an estimated 145,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK, but there is no cure and no definitive test for the disease.
據估計，英國約有14.5萬人患有帕金森病，但目前沒有治愈該病的方法，也沒有能檢測出該病的可靠手段。
The researchers say trials on 500 people showed a skin swab could correctly identify 85% of cases.
研究人員們說，對500人進行的試驗表明，有一項皮膚拭子檢查可以正確識別85%的病例。
Their new technique works by analysing compounds found in the sebum – the oily substance that coats the skin – and identifying changes in people with the disease.
他們的新技術依靠分析皮脂（包裹皮膚的油性物質）中的化合物，並識別它們在患者身上的變化來進行檢測。
The team at the University of Manchester said this is the first step towards what could be a fast, painless and cheap form of diagnosis. It could also be used to track the progression of Parkinson’s and to measure whether new experimental treatments are having an impact.
曼徹斯特大學的研究團隊表示，這是實現快速、無痛、廉價診斷方式的第一步。這項技術還可以用來追蹤帕金森病的病情變化，並檢測新的實驗性治療是否有效。
詞匯表
cure 治療、治愈
definitive 結論性的，完全可靠的
trials 試驗
skin swab 皮膚拭子檢查
identify 確認，識別
technique 技術
sebum 皮脂（皮膚上的一種油性物質）
substance 物質
coats 給…覆蓋一層 （塗層）
painless 無痛的
diagnosis 診斷
progression 進展
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or false? At the moment, there is no way to make people with Parkinson’s completely healthy again.
2. According to the researchers, what could the skin swab do?
3. What is the sebum?
4. What could the skin swab test be used to measure?
答案
1. True or false? At the moment, there is no way to make people with Parkinson‘s completely healthy again.
True. There is no cure for Parkinson’s.
2. According to the researchers, what could the skin swab do?
The researchers say trials on 500 people showed a skin swab could correctly identify 85% of cases.
3. What is the sebum?
The sebum is the oily substance that coats the skin.
4. What could the skin swab test be used to measure?
It could be used to measure whether new experimental treatments are having an impact.
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