One of the big problems in treating bacterial infections is drug resistance. Read the passage about this phenomenon and fill in the gaps with the words in the box

destroys cured become reproduce overcome survive takes prescribes

Bacteria can (1) drug resistant. Every time a patient (2) an antibiotic to fight a bacterial infection, the antibiotic (3) most of the bacteria. However, a few tough germs may (4) – either by mutating or by obtaining resistance genes from other bacteria. These survivors can (5) quickly, creating new drug resistant bacteria. The presence of these resistant strains usually means that the new infection will not be (6) by the first-choice antibiotic that your doctor (7). The strategies used to (8) drug resistance generally involve the following steps: accurate and rapid diagnosis, drug combination, new drugs.

Using the information in the passage, ask 5-7 questions that a patient might ask about TB treatment.

Active TB can almost always be cured with a combination of antibiotics. A proper combination of anti-TB drugs provides both prevention and cure. Effective treatment quickly makes the person with TB non-contagious and therefore prevents further spread of TB. Achieving a cure for TB takes about 6 to 8 months of daily treatment. Several drugs are needed to treat active TB. Taking several drugs does a better job of killing all of the bacteria and is more likely to prevent them from becoming resistant to the drugs.

Make a dialogue between a doctor and a patient in which the doctor will answer the patient’s questions about the details of TB treatment.

UNIT 12. DIABETES.

Read the article and do the tasks below.

While reading, find the words and expressions that mean the following:

1) как следует, надлежащим образом; 2) расщепляться; 3) овощи, не содержащие крахмал; 4) показывать, демонстрировать, раскрывать (суть явления); 5) получить рекомендации по здоровому питанию; 6) голодание; 7) избавиться от; 8) отсрочить начало (болезни).

Type 2 diabetes in newly diagnosed 'can be reversed'?

Newcastle researchers found that the low-calorie diet reduced fat levels in the pancreas and liver, which helped insulin production return to normal. 7 out of 11 people studied were free of diabetes 3 months later. More research is needed to see if the reversal is permanent, say experts.

Type 2 diabetes (adult-onset or non-insulin dependent) develops when not enough insulin is produced in the body or the insulin that is made by the body doesn't work properly. When this happens, glucose builds up in the blood and is not broken down into energy or fuel which the body needs.

The 11 participants in the study were all diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within the previous 4 years. They cut their food intake for two months, eating only liquid diet drinks and non-starchy vegetables.

After 1 week of the diet, researchers found that the pre-breakfast blood sugar levels of all participants had returned to normal. MRI scans of their pancreases also revealed that the fat levels in the organ had decreased from around 8% - an elevated level - to a more normal 6%. 3 months after the end of the diet, when participants had returned to eating normally and received advice on healthy eating and portion size, most no longer suffered from the condition.

Prof. Roy Taylor said he was not suggesting that people should follow the diet. "This diet was only used to test the hypothesis that if people lose substantial weight they will lose their diabetes. Although this study involved people diagnosed with diabetes within the last four years, there is potential for people with longer-standing diabetes to turn things around too."

However, not everyone in the study managed to stay free of diabetes. Prof. Edwin Gale, a diabetes expert, said the study did not reveal anything new. "We have known that starvation is a good cure for diabetes. If we introduced rationing tomorrow, then we could get rid of diabetes in this country. He added: "If you can catch people with diabetes in the early stages while beta cells are still functioning, then you can delay its onset for years, but you will get it sooner or later because it's in the system."

But Keith Frayn, professor of human metabolism, said the Newcastle study was important: "It offers great hope for many people with diabetes, although it must be said that not everyone will find it possible to start the extremely low-calorie diet used in this study."

1. The article describes an experiment in which a group of patients were offered a diet to return insulin production to normal. Does the article suggest that…

1) the researchers wanted to increase fat levels in the patients’ livers?

2) the patients were not advised to eat potatoes?

3) only those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes took part in the experiment?

4) the experiment lasted 4 years?

5) after the experiment the patients could only eat liquid diet drinks?

6) to monitor the patients’ condition their pre-breakfast sugar levels were measured?

7) MRI was used to see the level of insulin produced?

A) Summarize the information about the experiment in the table below.